BWX Technologies and Rolls-Royce SMR have announced agreements to collaborate on development of Rolls-Royce small modular reactors and future fleets.
Rolls-Royce SMR, a United Kingdom-based nuclear company, signed a nuclear steam generator detailed design contract with BWXT, according to BWXT’s Oct. 28 press release. Along with the contract, the two companies also signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU).
Under the contract, BWXT will design the nuclear steam generators that will be used in a Rolls-Royce SMR. Rolls-Royce SMR said the value of the contract is worth “multi-million” dollars, according to its own press release.
The Rolls-Royce SMR design is a small pressurized water reactor with a generating capacity of 470 megawatts. Each reactor uses three steam generators, BWXT said.
BWXT intends to leverage expertise from its subsidiary company BWXT Canada, based in Ontario, to deliver on the agreements.
BWXT Canada has produced steam generators for the nuclear industry for over 60 years and has shipped over 315 steam generators to nuclear power plants internationally, BWXT said.
Under the MOU, Rolls-Royce SMR will buy the steam generators from BWXT. The MOU also includes the development of a localization strategy to support future manufacturing and other work to assist with Rolls-Royce SMR deployment in the international market, according to the release.
“The agreement with BWXT for the design of the nuclear steam generators, reinforced by an MOU to support the first units in a global fleet of Rolls-Royce SMRs, is another major stride forward for our organization,” Rolls-Royce SMR’s Operations and Supply Chain Director Ruth Todd said.
Rolls-Royce SMR said it is the only company with multiple SMR commitments in Europe.
In June, The company was selected as preferred bidder in the Great British Energy – Nuclear SMR competition. It also has a commitment with CEZ, a European utility, to build up to 3,000 megawatts of nuclear power in the Czech Republic. Rolls-Royce SMR began site work at its first Czech SMR site in July.