Nuclear energy deals between U.S. and UK companies were signed this week after President Donald Trump and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer signed a memorandum of understanding to usher in a “golden age” of nuclear power, the countries said.
Trump visited the United Kingdom from Tuesday to Thursday.
The agreements between the UK and U.S. nuclear companies should benefit “working people” through jobs and growth in their respective countries, according to the UK government’s Monday press release. The UK said the deals are aimed to “turbocharge” the build-out of new nuclear power stations.
According to the release, the two countries intend to expedite the installation of nuclear reactors for both UK and U.S. companies entering the market.
The deals also extend to studying the viability of nuclear fusion energy.
“This landmark UK-US nuclear partnership is not just about powering our homes, it’s about powering our economy, our communities, and our ambition,” Starmer said in the release. “Together with the US, we’re building a golden age of nuclear energy that puts both countries at the forefront of global innovation and investment.”
TerraPower collaborates with KBR for new UK nuclear units
Among the transatlantic nuclear power deals, TerraPower and KBR have agreed to cooperate in seeking potential deployment of an advanced nuclear reactor in the United Kingdom.
The two companies will jointly perform studies and evaluate potential sites for development of TerraPower’s Natrium reactor and energy storage system, according to TerraPower’s Monday press release.
A Natrium reactor is a 345-megawatt sodium fast reactor, with a molten salt-based energy storage system. The storage technology has the capability of increasing the system’s capacity to 500-megawatts of energy.
TerraPower and KBR hope the just-announced project will help grow nuclear and construction skills, UK domestic supply chain and support UK’s potential to partake in future global export opportunities, the Bellevue, Wash.-based advanced nuclear technology company said.
The agreement also builds on the companies’ preexisting alliance formed in March. The two companies previously agreed on deploying Natrium plants in North America, UK, Europe and more.
Holtec signs deal with EDF UK and Tritax
Additionally, Holtec International, EDF UK and Tritax Management have agreed to collaborate to deploy a data center and small modular reactor at a retired coal site in Nottinghamshire, England.
According to Monday’s joint press release, the three companies intend to formalize their collaboration through a memorandum of understanding.
The three companies intend to develop a one gigawatt or 1,000-megawatt data center at the retired coal site in Nottinghamshire, Cottam. The coal-fired plant ceased operations in September 2019.
The proposed data center planned to be powered by Holtec’s SMR-300, a pressurized light water reactor with the output of 300 megawatts, according to the release.
The proposed data center project is targeted to come online by the end of the decade and the SMR is planned to become operational in the 2030s, according to the release.