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UK Picks Wylfa for First Small Modular Reactors Designed by Rolls‑Royce

Public delivery by Great British Energy‑Nuclear with Rolls‑Royce as designer follows a £2.5bn allocation for design and consents.

Overview

  • The government confirmed three initial SMRs at Wylfa, with scope to expand the site to as many as eight units.
  • Work is slated to begin in 2026 with first power targeted for the mid‑2030s, subject to final contracts and regulatory approvals.
  • The project is expected to support about 3,000 peak construction jobs and deliver electricity equivalent to roughly 3 million homes.
  • Ministers weighed Oldbury before opting for Anglesey, and Great British Energy‑Nuclear will identify potential sites for a future large‑scale plant by autumn 2026.
  • US ambassador Warren Stephens publicly criticised the decision, urging consideration of a gigawatt‑scale project using American technology.