Rolls-Royce: A look at 1926 20hp Landaulette by Park Ward
We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info
The British engineering firm is now looking for locations in England and Wales to house the main factory building its fleet of small nuclear reactors (SMRs). Rolls-Royce’s SMRs are said to be a revolutionary new way of providing nuclear power, being much smaller, cheaper and quicker to build than regular nuclear power plants. Rolls-Royce is now seeking bids and is leading a consortium that has written to several of England’s regional development bodies and the Welsh government.
It has asked them to pitch for the manufacturing site and has promised an investment of up to £200million.
It has also promised to create as many as 200 direct jobs.
This comes after the consortium secured £210m from the government last year towards the development of an SMR fleet after raising a similar amount of private sector funding.
Prime minister Boris Johnson has backed SMRs as part of his 10-point plan for a “green industrial revolution” as he races to get Britain’s emissions down to net zero to meet the 2050 target.
The department for business said the programme “supports government objectives to provide further optionality in our work towards the UK’s net zero ambitions”.
The plan is for the reactors will be built in factories around the country and then assembled on site.
This will reportedly reduce the risks and huge costs of construction of larger traditional nuclear power plants.
The main factory will build the heavy pressure vessels that are part of the reactors.
Rolls-Royce has promised that the community chosen to host the factory will benefit from “high value, sustainable jobs which will produce products that will be exported globally for many decades to come”.
Instead of looking for cash from local councils, it is believed that Rolls-Royce is more interested in what sort of skills training facilities already exist.
It is also interested in how much land is available, and the kinds of local incentives available to encourage the deployment of the SMRs.
While Rolls-Royce is on the hunt for the site for a main factory, it also plans to build other, smaller facilities that will make modules for the reactors.
The reactors will be installed at already existing nuclear sites in the UK.
While not making any firm commitments as of yet, Wylfa and Trawsfynydd in North Wales are reportedly being considered.
A decision is expected to be made this year and construction should start soon after.
DON’T MISS
Archaeologists baffled by skeleton that had been ‘rolled into a ditch’ [REPORT]
Tourist spots under threat as mega iceberg leaks 152 tonnes of water [REVEAL]
Truss close to Brexit deal as UK to pump funds into EU project [INSIGHT]
The company will likely be scrambling to quickly meet complete the first 470MW plant to reach its mid-2030s target.
Rolls-Royce Small Modular Reactor said the “development and growth of a UK nuclear manufacturing base is core to the deployment of Rolls-Royce SMRs”.
While the company’s SMRs will be manufactured at home, there are plans to export the technology across the world to capitalise on a significant market.
In fact, the estimate that the total market values for SMRs is around £250billion.
Speaking to Express.co.uk, Roll-Royce CTO Paul Stein said: “There is a big export potential for the UK.
“We see it as a significant contribution not only to net zero but a revived UK economy.
“The export opportunity for SMRs is £250billion for the total market.
“We think we have got one of the most competitive designs in the world for SMR and we’re very upbeat in the UK’s role in taking a big share of the global market.”
Source: Read Full Article
