Rolls-Royce SMR to build nuclear facilities in Sweden

The Nuclear Industry Association has welcomed the news that Rolls-Royce SMR has been selected to deliver three small modular reactors in Sweden.

Vattenfall’s and Industrikraft’s nuclear company Videberg Kraft selected Rolls-Royce as supplier for new SMR power at the Värö Peninsula, next to the existing Ringhals nuclear plant. Detailed planning will now begin for three reactors based on SMR modular technology.

Videberg Kraft, the nuclear power company owned by Vattenfall and Industrikraft, is working to enable new nuclear power in Sweden.

The process of evaluating and selecting a final supplier, from initially more than 70 options, has been under way for four years.

In welcoming the partnership, Tom Greatrex, Chief Executive of the Nuclear Industry Association, said: “This is another major endorsement of Rolls-Royce SMR's technology and a significant boost for Britain's nuclear export ambitions. Coming so soon after its selection by Great British Energy - Nuclear, it underlines the growing international confidence in the technology and the strength of the British nuclear industry.

"New nuclear projects like this will provide clean, reliable power for decades while supporting high-skilled jobs, industrial growth and energy security. As we move forward with deployment at Wylfa, this agreement shows that British nuclear expertise is not just attracting investment at home, but winning opportunities overseas too."

New nuclear in Sweden

Rolls-Royce SMR is recognised as being able to offer an efficient, industrialised concept that reduces the risk of delays. 

It is based on proven pressurised water reactor (PWR) technology - the same type of technology used at Ringhals today. The concept is one where the construction including assembly takes place in an industrialised controlled environment, reducing the risk for delays on site.

“We are now taking a major step forward together with Industrikraft and Videberg Kraft AB on the journey towards new nuclear power in Sweden, for the first time in more than 40 years. New nuclear power is an important part of the Swedish energy system and will support the transition of industry and thereby strengthen Sweden’s long-term competitiveness,” said Anna Borg, board member of Videberg Kraft and President and CEO of Vattenfall.

Martin Darelius, Acting Head of New Nuclear at Vattenfall, said the company is pleased to announce that Rolls-Royce SMR has been selected by Videberg Kraft.

“Our overall assessment is that they offer the strongest conditions for delivering a successful project. This has been a highly thorough process, which also has been reviewed by an independent party. Vattenfall will continue to provide our full support in the work ahead.”

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Nuclear reactor output

Three new reactors with an output of 470MW per reactor can produce around 12TWh of fossil-free electricity per year, which is an important addition to southern Sweden.

The concept is based on modularised manufacturing, in which each component is delivered in its entirety to the operational site and then assembled.

The reactor technology is a pressurised water reactor (PWR), the same technology currently used at Ringhals.

Rolls-Royce SMR is a British company. Its principal owner, Rolls-Royce, has long been a supplier of nuclear-powered submarines, a technology on which Rolls-Royce SMR has developed further.