Nuclear power: South Yorkshire chosen for proposed UK SMR factory

Holtec two-unit SMR-300 plant (credit: Holtec)

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Everything nuclear is a slow process – more like decades than years. But something has to try to compensate for the intermittency of renewables, as fuel-burning power stations are pushed to the margins of the national grid system in pursuit of government net zero targets for electricity generation.
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USA-based Holtec International has selected South Yorkshire in England as the preferred site for its proposed UK small modular reactor factory, says World Nuclear News.

It has also signed memorandums of understanding with two British research centres to support SMR manufacturing and testing.

Holtec’s selection process involved evaluation of 13 locations that responded to a call for interest released by Holtec earlier this year, after which four locations – West Midlands, South Yorkshire, Cumbria and Tees Valley – were shortlisted.

Holtec’s UK subsidiary, Holtec Britain, has now selected South Yorkshire as the location for its new SMR factory to serve the UK, Europe and the Middle East.

According to the company, the factory is estimated to provide GBP1.5 billion (USD2 billion) in Gross Value Added to the economy and is set to create hundreds of well-paid, high-skilled jobs.

Holtec said that at least 70% of materials, components and services will be sourced from the UK, with significant supply chain opportunities, particularly in and around South Yorkshire.
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Holtec has been developing its SMR unit since 2011. The SMR-300 is a pressurised water reactor producing around 300 MW of electrical power or 1050 MW of thermal power for process applications, and the company says it has undergone several design evolutions, the most recent of which is the incorporation of forced flow capability overlayed on gravity-driven flow in the plant’s primary system.

The SMR-300 is one of six SMR designs selected in October last year by Great British Nuclear on a shortlist for the UK’s SMR selection competition and one of the five vendors to submit a bid by the 8 July deadline. The aim is for a final investment decision on two or three of the designs to be taken in 2029.

Holtec proposes to deploy around 5 GWe of SMRs in serial production in the UK by 2050.

Full article here.
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Image: Two-unit SMR-300 plant (credit: Holtec)