German energy technology company Siemens Energy is to supply Rolls-Royce with equipment to build scaled-down nuclear plants, known as small modular reactors (SMRs), according to a deal announced on Friday.
The two companies have signed an agreement for the exclusive delivery of steam turbines, generators and other facilities, Siemens Energy announced. A corresponding contract is expected to be finalized by the end of the year.
According to a report by the German News Service (delivered by dpa), Siemens Energy talked of a global renaissance of nuclear energy in which SMRs will have a key role adding that together with Rolls-Royce, the company said it aims to shape the future of energy supply.
British-based Rolls Royce is working on modular nuclear power plants with a capacity of up to 470 megawatts. Conventional nuclear power plants typically generate more than double this quantity just as several countries are investing in mini reactors
While Germany has exited nuclear energy, several countries including Britain, the Czech Republic and Poland are advancing the development of SMRs. China and Russia have already put their first facilities into operation.
These smaller, modular reactors are seen by proponents as an alternative to traditional large nuclear power plants, offering more flexible and potentially safer energy generation – not only for electricity production but also for district heating in cities.
The nuclear industry argues that SMRs could be easier to build, more cost-effective and more efficient than traditional large-scale plants.
However, opponents of nuclear energy question these claims and fear new risks due to the multitude of facilities that could arise, making monitoring and control more difficult.
