Janet Finch-Saunders MS, Shadow Minister for Climate Change, has spoken of her delight at the announcement that the UK Government has asked regulators to begin assessing Rolls-Royce’s Small Modular Reactor (SMR) power plant design.
The Rolls-Royce SMR’s nuclear power plant design is entering the Generic Design Assessment (GDA) process with its regulators – the Office for Nuclear Regulation, the Environment Agency and Natural Resources Wales.
The 470MW SMR draws upon well-established Pressurised Water Reactor (PWR) technology in use all over the world, but Rolls-Royce SMR’s unique approach will see the reactor components built in factory conditions and assembled on site.
Commenting on this significant step in bringing SMRs into existence, Janet said:
“I am proud that the UK Government has backed Rolls' plan with an initial £210million to develop their design.
“We need to see further progress in achieving net zero and producing low carbon and low cost energy. Entering the GDA assessment process is another step in that direction as we are now closer to deploying a fleet of SMRs.
“This is brilliant news especially for us in North Wales, because SMR creation at Trawsfynydd and Wylfa would create an economic boost and highly skilled jobs”.
