Rolls-Royce SMR has welcomed a landmark contract awarded by Great British Energy – Nuclear that will clear the way for the design and delivery of the UK’s first small modular reactors (SMRs). The two-stage agreement is intended to support site-specific design work, preparations for construction at Wylfa in North Wales, and long-lead equipment orders from the supply chain.
The contract marks a significant step for the UK SMR programme and follows earlier progress abroad, including an early works agreement signed with Czech utility ČEZ Group in July to support site work in the Czech Republic for Rolls-Royce SMR to provide up to 3 GWe of capacity. Rolls-Royce said the new deal gives the project greater certainty at home while reinforcing the company’s position as the only SMR developer with multiple commitments in Europe.
For Rolls-Royce chief executive Tufan Erginbilgic, the agreement is a “critical milestone” for the company and for the UK government’s ambition to deliver a “golden age” of new nuclear. He said the deal reflects confidence in Rolls-Royce’s nuclear capabilities and would help unlock the potential for a global fleet of SMRs.
In November 2025, UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer announced that three SMRs would be sited at Wylfa, a move expected to support high-skilled jobs, strengthen energy security and deepen the domestic nuclear supply chain. Rolls-Royce said the project is already generating returns as activity expands in the UK and Czech Republic, and that it remains the furthest advanced in any European regulatory process.
The agreement also underlines the growing competition among SMR developers to secure first-mover advantage as governments look for smaller nuclear plants to complement larger gigawatt-scale reactors.
