European countries have been striving to end their dependence on Russian gas since Vladimir Putin invaded Ukraine on February 24. As well as exposing the EU’s dependence on Moscow’s energy exports, the war also aggravated an already devastating energy crisis as wholesale oil and gas costs soared. .
In a bid to slash electricity bills and increase energy security, European countries have shifted their focus to renewable energy such as wind and nuclear.
And Rolls-Royce SMRs have also been singled out for a critical role.
Speaking to Express.co.uk, Business and Energy Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng said: “While the technology does not yet exist, SMRs could be a huge opportunity for the UK as we work to ensure greater energy independence.
“These cheap and quick-to-build mini-reactors could bring clean, homegrown electricity to people’s homes while reducing our exposure to high gas prices and cutting foreign imports.”
In the Prime Minister’s energy security strategy unveiled last month, the Government announced that it is investing £210 million to help develop innovative new technology, which is said to be much cheaper and easier to implement than existing technologies. traditional nuclear power plants.
Roughly the size of two football pitches, these SMRs can power around half a million homes, equivalent to a city the size of Leeds.
This puts the Rolls-Royce reactor’s estimated power output at about a quarter of that of larger traditional nuclear reactors, such as the upcoming Hinkley Point C.
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Mr Kwarteng continued: “Together with massive amounts of offshore wind and solar power, we are absolutely set to make the UK a major exporter of clean energy in the coming decades, which would be a huge reversal of fortunes.
“By supporting Rolls Royce’s early development of SMR technology, we were not only able to maximize British-made materials, create new intellectual property and revitalize local supply chains, but also position our country as a major exporter of nuclear technology. with UK stamp.
“We are determined to harness British engineering know-how to deploy more homegrown, affordable clean energy in this country, and help our European friends end their dependence on Russian oil and gas – small modular reactors could do just that. ”.
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Rolls-Royce is looking to develop a reactor that can be easily mass-produced in factories, which will make the technology much cheaper and more flexible.
In the Government’s Energy Security Strategy, the UK has strongly pushed nuclear power, with the aim of generating 24 gigawatts by 2050, which would represent 25 per cent of projected electricity demand.
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