Great British Nuclear (GBN) said it had started detailed negotiations on 11 November with the final four shortlisted bidders into the UK’s small modular reactor (SMR) programme.
The four companies, GE Hitachi, Holtec, Rolls-Royce SMR and Westinghouse, have been shortlisted following two rounds of assessment by GBN, the government’s nuclear delivery body.
GBN will negotiate with all four before final tenders are submitted, with final decisions to be taken in the spring.
The government said in a statement that to reach this stage, each of the four designs was subject to a “robust analysis”. GBN has evaluated each technology, including aspects such as safety, deliverability, and their ability to support development of a fleet of SMRs.
“GBN considers the designs, each of which is proceeding through the UK’s regulatory process, are viable options for development,” the statement said.
“Subject to negotiations, GBN consider any one of these designs would be fit to use in the UK nuclear programme.”
GBN’s chair, Simon Bowen said: “This is a significant moment for the SMR programme. Our technical experts have assessed each design in detail and are very confident these SMRs could play a key role in the UK’s future energy mix.
“The negotiation phase will enable us to select the absolute best technologies on the best terms for the UK.”
The two companies that were on an initial list of six, but were not included in the list of four, were EDF and US-based NuScale Power.
French state-owned utility and nuclear operator EDF said in July that it had pulled out of the competition after deciding to shift away from its indigenous Nuward technology to a design based on proven technology only.
The UK government gave no reason for NuScale’s failure to make the list of four. In November 2023, NuScale cancelled its first SMR project, in the US, as costs increased.