Contract ‘unlocks delivery’ and is tangible example of government’s ‘golden age’ of new nuclear
Rolls-Royce SMR and UK government body Great British Energy - Nuclear (GBE-N) have signed a contract that enables work to start immediately on the delivery of three Rolls-Royce small modular reactors (SMRs) at Wylfa, on the coast of Ynys Môn (Anglesey) in North Wales.
The three-unit project at Ynys Môn will generate at least 1,400 MW, supplying enough stable, clean electricity to power the equivalent of around three million of today’s homes for more than 60 years.
The announcement on 13 April was welcomed by the UK’s nuclear industry. Tom Greatrex, chief executive of the London-based Nuclear Industry Association, said: “This is a historic step for clean power, industrial growth and skilled jobs in Wales. It marks the beginning of a significant and exciting new phase for the project and the people of Ynys Môn.”
Rolls-Royce SMR was selected as the preferred technology partner in June 2025, and £2.6bn (€2.9bn, $3.4bn) was allocated by the government towards this contract and wider programme delivery.
In November 2025, the UK announced that Wylfa would host the UK’s first SMRs.
The government said in a statement that since then GBE-N, the body in charge of overseeing the deployment of new reactors in Britain, and Rolls-Royce SMR teams have worked intensively to finalise the contract, unlocking the next phase of the programme. The contract will require Rolls-Royce SMR to work with GBE-N to deliver against key milestones as it begins site-specific design, regulatory engagement and planning processes, ahead of a future final investment decision.
“The current conflict in the Middle East is yet another reminder that the only route to energy security and sovereignty for the UK is to end dependence on fossil fuel markets, and accelerate the transition to clean, homegrown power,” the government said.
GBE-N has already awarded over £350m in contracts across the supply chain this year, including some of the UK’s leading companies.
Rolls-Royce SMR said today’s agreement allows work to start on site, through a firm contract allowing Rolls-Royce SMR to develop its site-specific design and order critical components from the supply chain. It also gives the certainty required to ramp up its recruitment programme in order to execute this work and successfully deliver the initial three units.
Chris Cholerton, Rolls-Royce SMR chief executive, said: “This contract unlocks the delivery of our first three units at Wylfa and is a tangible example of the government’s ‘golden age’ of new nuclear being delivered successfully with British technology.”
Cholerton said the contract brings certainty to the UK SMR programme. He said Rolls-Royce SMR is the only SMR company with multiple commitments in Europe – an initial three units at Wylfa and up to six units in the Czech Republic.
Rolls-Royce SMR and its supply chain partners will create 3,000 jobs local to the Wylfa site and an additional 5,000 jobs nationally – placing the UK at the forefront of this “transformational opportunity”, the company said.
Chancellor of the exchequer Rachel Reeves said: “This investment, along with vital financing from the National Wealth Fund (NWF), will strengthen our energy security, create skilled jobs and help to build a new generation of homegrown nuclear technology that will power our economy for decades to come.” The NWF is a public financial institution created to mobilise private capital for clean energy and industrial growth.
£599 Million To Support Finalisation Of Generic Design
As the technology selected through the GBE-N procurement process, Rolls-Royce SMR was able to apply for a loan on commercial terms that will be provided by the NWF. That application was successful, with a facility of up to £599m available to support the finalisation of the generic design of the Rolls-Royce SMR.
Secretary of state for energy security and net zero Ed Miliband said that at a time of global instability, the contract for Rolls-Royce SMR is a major milestone for Britain's energy security.
“We are backing a British company to deliver our first small modular reactors –creating a generation of good jobs, driving growth and providing clean, homegrown power for decades to come.”
Simon Roddy, chief executive of GBE-N, called the agreement a landmark moment for the nuclear industry. “Working with Rolls-Royce SMR, we’re bringing a significant long-term investment to the UK industrial supply chain,” he said.
The government said SMRs represent a new generation of nuclear power, delivering proven technology through standardised, modular, factory‑built components. This approach reduces delivery risk, shortens construction timelines, and minimises local environmental disruption.
A ‘Well Understood’ Technology
The Rolls-Royce SMR is a 470-MW pressurised water reactor (PWR) that uses well understood technology that is already operating in hundreds of nuclear reactors.
According to Rolls-Royce SMR the basic elements of the plant are typical of most PWRs operating today, there are some very modern innovations. The Rolls-Royce SMR has adopted an industry leading boron-free primary circuit design, which has allowed toxic and corrosive boric acid to be eliminated from all essential systems –drastically reducing overall plant water consumption but, more importantly, eliminating this hazardous waste source from daily operations.
The reactor core is protected from external risks and the impact of any ground movement. Internally, the reactor is protected by safety systems that can operate independently of any human intervention so that the core is put into a safe state with no external intervention for up to three days.
Aerial view of the Wylfa site, where three Rolls-Royce SMRs are planned. Creative Commons Licence.
