Rolls-Royce SMR secures contractual certainty to build Europe’s first SMR fleet
Rolls Royce SMR
13th April 2026
Great British Energy – Nuclear (GBE-N) and 13th have signed a contract to deliver the UK’s first three small modular reactors (SMRs) at Wylfa – an island off the coast of North Wales.
In November 2025, the UK Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, announced that Wylfa will host the UK’s first SMRs. Today’s agreement allows work to start on site, through a firm contract allowing Rolls-Royce SMR to develop its site-specific design and order critical components from the supply chain. It also gives the certainty required to ramp up its recruitment programme in order to execute this work and successfully deliver the initial three units.
Chris Cholerton, Rolls-Royce SMR Chief Executive, said: “This contract unlocks the delivery of our first three units at Wylfa and is a tangible example of the Government’s ‘golden age’ of new nuclear being delivered successfully with British technology.”
“This brings certainty to the UK SMR programme and differentiates our business as the only SMR company with multiple commitments in Europe – an initial three units at Wylfa and up to six units in Czechia.”
“We are transforming the way nuclear projects are delivered, to give greater cost and schedule certainty with a standardised, factory-built approach. This project is important to the UK’s energy security and will power up our business and the UK supply chain.”
Rolls-Royce SMR and its supply chain partners will create 3,000 jobs local to the Wylfa site and an additional 5,000 jobs nationally – placing the UK at the forefront of this transformational opportunity.
Rolls-Royce SMR is transforming the way nuclear projects are delivered using proven nuclear technology, modularisation and a ‘factory-built’ approach – reducing delays and minimising the impact on local people and the environment. Each Rolls-Royce SMR power plant will generate enough stable low-carbon electricity to power a million homes for 60+ years.
