Bidders submit bids in tender for British modular reactor

Two of the four shortlisted bidders for the construction of small modular reactors (SMRs) have submitted their final bids. So far, GE Hitachi and Rolls-Royce SMR have submitted bids in the tender.

The British state-owned organisation Great British Nuclear (GBN), which is tasked with managing the development of new nuclear capacity in the UK, initially preselected six companies. Four of them – GE Hitachi, Rolls-Royce SMR, Holtec and Westinghouse – entered the next stage of negotiations in September last year. In February this year, they were invited to submit their final bids.

Technology and site selection

GBN plans to select up to three reactor designs that could be used to build several units at a single site. The organisation currently owns land designated for SMRs at Wylfa on the island of Anglesey in North Wales and at Oldbury in Gloucestershire, southwest England, but has not ruled out using other sites.

GE Hitachi is offering its BWRX-300 reactor, a boiling water reactor. Holtec is submitting its SMR-300, a 300 MWe pressurised water reactor. Rolls-Royce SMR is promoting its 470 MWe pressurised water reactor, while Westinghouse is offering its AP300 design, a pressurised water reactor with an electrical output of 300 MWe. All the bidders emphasise that their reactors are based on existing, proven technologies that enable rapid construction through modularisation.

Company representatives comment

Andy Champ, head of GE Hitachi’s UK operations, said: “The UK government has a unique opportunity to put the UK at the forefront of building a new generation of nuclear capacity. Submitting our bid marks a significant step towards achieving this goal. The BWRX-300 offers a simplified, safe and scalable design. Together with our strategic partners, we are ready to bring this experience to the UK.”

Rolls-Royce SMR CEO Chris Cholerton said: “I am grateful to the entire Rolls-Royce SMR team for its dedication and collaboration in preparing our bid. We have a world-class team behind a product that is among the best on the market, and I believe we have submitted a compelling bid to GBN to build a new generation of nuclear capacity for the UK.”

Next steps in the selection process

GBN said in February that it planned to announce the selected technology before the summer. The final investment decision is expected in 2029.

According to GBN Chair Simon Bowen, who discussed the organisation’s plans in an interview on the World Nuclear News podcast last year, GBN intends to sign contracts with one, two or three SMR vendors. The contracts will include co-funding for technology development, from design completion and approval processes through to specific permits for individual sites and potential equipment delivery. Each selected technology would be allocated a site with the potential to host several SMR units.