UK firm reaches deal with Westinghouse for four AP300 nuclear SMRs
UK-based Community Nuclear Power Limited has just signed an agreement with Westinghouse Electric Company to build four AP300 SMRs in the UK.
The UK’s Community Nuclear Power Limited and America’s Westinghouse Electric Company have agreed to bring the latter’s AP300 small modular reactor (SMR) technology to UK soil.
Set to become the UK’s first privately financed small modular reactor fleet, this agreement is a significant development in the UK’s energy mix, and if all goes to plan, the new reactors should be online by 2030.
The Westinghouse AP300 is a smaller version of its innovative AP1000 nuclear reactor and, as IE previously reported, is set to be operational by 2027. The cost of AP300 is expected to be around $1 billion per unit, compared to the anticipated cost of $6.8 billion for AP1000.
“Our AP300 SMR is ideally suited not just to support grid generation, but also for industrial sites for generating clean and secure energy and the ability to produce hydrogen, e-fuels, desalination, and district heating,” Westinghouse Electric Company said.
These reactors will generate approximately 300 megawatts of energy, sufficient to power around 300,000 homes, compared to the AP1000’s 1,200 megawatts (MW).
“The AP300 SMR is the backbone of a community clean energy system. Flexible performance provides a proven capability to stabilize modern renewable heavy electric grids, including fast load change capabilities to support variations in demand. Includes additional capability to support district heating, desalination, and hydrogen production,” explained Westinghouse.
AP300s for the UK’s energy future
An agreement has been made to construct four SMRs with the given plate number in the North Teesside area of Northeast England. This region is experiencing significant industrial and economic development, increasing demand for carbon-free and reliable electricity.
CNP is collaborating with strategic partners, including Jacobs and Interpath Advisory, to develop a fully licensed facility to complete the project by 2027.
The project aligns with the UK Government’s recently published consultation on Alternative Routes to Market for New Nuclear Projects. It complements Westinghouse’s involvement in Great British Nuclear’s (GBN) SMR technology selection process and aims to enhance workforce scale, training, and local supply chain by implementing multiple deployment projects.
“This project [combines] Westinghouse’s proven technology and mature supply chain with our depth of expertise in nuclear program delivery in a region transforming its industrial landscape. We are delighted to be working with Westinghouse [to support] private deployment in North Teesside,” said Paul Foster, Community Nuclear Power’s CEO.
“We want to thank Community Nuclear Power for this tremendous opportunity to deliver our advanced, proven AP300 SMR technology to the U.K. market,” said David Durham, Westinghouse President, Energy Systems.
Ideally suited for grid generation
“Our AP300 SMR is ideally suited not just to support grid generation but also for industrial sites for generating clean and secure energy and the ability to produce hydrogen, e-fuels, desalination, and district heating,” he added.
Unlike other SMRs, Businesswire explains, still under development and pose risks due to their first-of-a-kind technologies, Westinghouse’s AP300 SMR uses the same engineering, components, and supply chain as the AP1000 technology. This enables easier licensing and makes use of the available technical skills.
The AP300 SMR is already under consideration by customers in the UK, Europe, and North America.
*This article has been updated to correct an error with the SI unit used for the output of the AP1000. It should have been MW, not mW, which has now been corrected.
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