Rolls-Royce (www.rolls-royce.com) and Turkey’s EUAS International ICC have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to carry out a study to evaluate both the technical, economic and legal ’applicability’ — plus the possibility of joint production — of compact nuclear power stations (also known as SMRs).

The consortium that is designing the power station comprises Assystem, Atkins, BAM Nuttall, Laing O’Rourke, National Nuclear Laboratory (NNL), Rolls-Royce, Jacobs, The Welding Institute (TWI) and the Nuclear AMRC.

Consortium director David Orr (of Rolls-Royce) said: “Addressing climate change is our planet’s most pressing long-term challenge, but it can also be a crucial economic opportunity.

"Our power station is affordable and fast to deploy; it is an attractive investment that will stimulate tens of thousands of jobs regionally and embed prosperity and quality of life for decades to come.

"Turkey’s domestic and regional nuclear-power opportunities are incredibly exciting, and we look forward to exploring how our consortium’s power station will support its energy, economic and industrial ambitions.”

Yahya Yılmaz Bayraktarlı, CEO of EUAS International ICC, said: “Our vision is to diversify electricity resources with nuclear power.

"We aim to develop a sustainable nuclear industry that contributes to economic growth and the social wealth of the country.

"Turkey already develops nuclear-power plants of larger scale with its international partners, and ompetitiveness in price is an important indicator for us.

"The feasibility of small modular reactors is an R&D issue that we continuously monitor.”

Components for compact power station will be made in standardised sections in factories, before being transported to sites for rapid assembly beneath a weatherproof canopy.

This cuts costs by avoiding weather disruptions, provides excellent conditions for workers, and secures incremental efficiency savings by using streamlined and advanced manufacturing processes for its components.