Blackburn-based Assystem UK, part of the world’s second largest independent nuclear engineering company, has announced that it will join a UK consortium that is leading the way in the design and build of low-carbon small modular reactors (SMRs).
The consortium, which includes Atkins, BAM Nuttall, Laing O’Rourke, National Nuclear Laboratory (NNL), Nuclear AMRC, Rolls-Royce, Jacobs and TWI, is working to develop the nuclear SMRs that will sit at the heart of the UK’s low carbon economy.
The project aims to build a fleet of up to 16 cutting-edge compact power stations which will create 40,000 jobs in the UK.
Each SMR will provide enough electricity (440MWe) to charge 63,000 electric vehicles, 88 million smartphones and power 40 million light bulbs, enough energy to power a city the size of Leeds.
Working as a fleet, they will bring a secure supply of electricity to the UK when reliance on fossil fuels decreases to meet the net zero carbon emissions target in 2050.
Assystem is present in all the main countries developing nuclear energy including the UK, France, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Egypt and believes that decarbonised, affordable and safe electricity generated through large and small nuclear power stations will provide the foundations for a sustainable energy future.
The company, is bringing expertise from the design and build of nuclear projects around the world to this new challenge and will be delivering enhanced engineering services by combining nuclear expertise with the most advanced digital and data methodologies and tools to provide a reliable basis to move production forward.
Peter Higton, Assystem UK managing director, said: “What this consortium is trying to achieve is very exciting for the UK economy, bringing our varied industrial expertise in design, technology, construction and manufacturing together to tackle climate change and help achieve net zero by 2050 alongside renewables.
“These new compact power stations produce low carbon electricity, are innovative, and can be designed, manufactured and built in the UK.”
The consortium is match-funding the £18 million investment confirmed by the UK Government.
The first SMR is expected to be built and connected to the national electricity grid by 2029, with the support of legislation to enable the programme.