Rolls-Royce SMR and ČEZ sign early works agreement for Czech Republic SMR

Rolls-Royce SMR and Czech utility ČEZ have signed an early works agreement to develop a 470 MW small modular reactor (SMR) alongside the existing nuclear power station in Temelín, in the South Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. It will be the first SMR to be built in the country.

The early works will include regulatory approvals and licensing, environmental assessments and preparatory site work at Temelín, as well as detailed planning and regulatory engagement.

Rolls-Royce SMR was selected as technology partner by ČEZ last year for the proposed installation of up to 3 GW of capacity from SMRs. ČEZ also acquired a 20% stake in Rolls-Royce SMR.

While initial deployment is planned for the Temelín site, ČEZ is also exploring opportunities to deploy SMRs at Tušimice in the Ústí nad Labem Region, to the north of the country.

The Rolls-Royce SMR pressurised water reactor (PWR) is a pressurised water reactor design producing 1,358 MWt of heat, about a third of that of the (full-size) EPR being built at Hinkley Point and Sizewell.

According to the company, while the basic elements of its SMR design are typical of most PWRs operating today, there are ‘some very modern innovations’. It features a boron-free primary circuit design, which has eliminated the use of toxic and corrosive boric acid from all duty systems. This ‘drastically reduces overall plant water consumption but, more importantly, eliminates this hazardous waste source from daily operations’, says Rolls-Royce SMR.

The reactor core is also protected from external risks and the impact of any ground movement, reports the company, although without revealing details. It adds that: ‘Internally, the reactor is protected by safety systems that can operate independently of any human intervention so that the core is put into a safe state with no external intervention for up to three days.’

The Rolls-Royce SMR and ČEZ agreement builds on the signing last week by UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala of a commitment to work together on SMR export opportunities.

ARC Clean Technology completes Canadian regulatory design review for ARC-100 advanced SMR

Across the Atlantic, ARC Clean Technology (ARC) reports that is has completed Phase 2 of the three-stage Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) Vendor Design Review (VDR) for its advanced SMR, the ARC-100. The CNSC identified ‘no fundamental barriers to licensing’, bringing the SMR design one step closer to commercial deployment, says ARC.

The ARC-100 is a 100 MWe sodium-cooled fast neutron reactor designed for both on-grid electricity production and industrial heat applications. The ARC-100 is the first advanced, sodium-cooled fast neutron reactor to complete a review of this type with the CNSC, reports ARC.

The company is planning to build a demonstration unit of the ARC-100 at Brunswick Power’s Point Lepreau nuclear power plant site in New Brunswick, Canada.

New SMR tracker sees 81% growth in SMR deployment

In related news, the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) has published the latest edition of its SMR Dashboard, which analysed developments in 74 SMR designs in licensing, siting, financing, supply chain, engagement and fuel.

Some 51 SMR designs are reported to be involved in pre-licensing or licensing processes across 15 countries. There are also approximately 85 ‘active discussions’ between SMR developers and site owners worldwide, according to the NEA. Progress has also been made in supply chain readiness and financing. Since the last edition of the Dashboard was released in 2024, there has been an 81% increase in the number of SMR designs that have secured at least one source of funding or made announcements of funding commitments.

Seven designs are already either operating or under construction, with a strong pipeline of projects progressing toward first-of-a-kind deployment, reports the NEA. ‘The diversity of designs provides potential customers with a healthy range of options, but also presents challenges to regulators and the industrial supply chain,’ it suggests. However, it also notes ‘opportunities to streamline global supply chains, promote standardisation and enhance the economic viability of SMRs’.

‘The strategic drivers for SMR deployment – rising electricity demand, including from data centres and expanding digital services, energy security imperatives and national goals set by many countries to reduce carbon emissions – are intensifying. SMRs are now a core part of the energy strategies in an increasing number of countries in all parts of the world,’ comments NEA Director-General William D Magwood.

The NEA SMR Dashboard includes information about each SMR design, such as technology concept, configuration, outlet temperature, size and fuel type, including requirements for enrichment. For the first time, the Dashboard is also available as a digital interactive platform, which provides direct access to the NEA’s SMR database.