Rolls-Royce Secures £599m Contract for UK's First Small Modular Reactors

• •Rolls-Royce SMR to develop three small modular reactors at Wylfa, Wales.
• •Contract includes £599 million funding from the National Wealth Fund.
• •Project aims to create 3,000 local jobs and enhance UK energy security.

Rolls-Royce SMR has signed a contract with Great British Energy-Nuclear to commence work on the UK's first small modular reactors (SMRs) at the Wylfa site in Wales. This contract, announced on April 13, 2026, allows for immediate development of three SMRs, which are expected to generate enough electricity to power three million homes over their 60-year lifespan. The project is backed by up to £599 million from the UK’s National Wealth Fund, aimed at enhancing energy security and creating approximately 3,000 construction jobs locally and 5,000 nationally. The initiative is part of the UK government's strategy to reduce reliance on fossil fuels amid rising global energy prices due to geopolitical tensions. Rolls-Royce SMR plans to establish a fleet of SMRs across the UK, with additional units proposed in Czechia. The project is seen as a significant step towards a 'golden age' of nuclear energy in the UK.