Rolls-Royce SMR has partnered with Swedish nuclear technology firm Studsvik AB to support its small modular reactor (SMR) programme, marking another step towards deployment.

Studsvik, an established supplier of nuclear analysis software and specialised services to the international nuclear industry, is the latest in a string of collaborations Rolls-Royce SMR has signed over the past year as it moves towards commissioning its modular, ‘factory-built’ nuclear power plant.

In a bid to kickstart what energy secretary Ed Miliband called the “golden age” of nuclear energy, the government confirmed last summer it was to invest £14.2bn in the upcoming Sizewell C nuclear plant, as well as a further £2.5bn for SMRs. It also confirmed that it had selected Rolls-Royce SMR as the preferred bidder to partner with Great British Energy – Nuclear on SMR plants.

Unlike large nuclear power plants, which take a lot of investment and a lot of time to build (sometimes a decade or more), SMRs are built in a factory as modular components. These modules are then transported to and assembled on-site, radically reducing construction time.

The Rolls-Royce SMR is based on a compact, three-loop pressurised water reactor designed to generate approximately 470 megawatts of electrical power, enough to power one million average households, or a city the size of Sheffield, for at least 60 years.

In November 2025, the government confirmed that Wylfa – an island off the coast of North Wales – will host the country’s first SMR nuclear power station using reactor designs from Rolls-Royce SMR, subject to final government approval later this year. 

Rolls-Royce SMR is now preparing to bring its reactor designs to market, and the agreement with Studsvik is an important part of that. It will cover several technical areas, including fuel qualification and testing, plant life management, hot cell technology, core design and operational modelling and regulatory licensing support. 

Chris Cholerton, Rolls-Royce SMR chief executive, said: “This agreement strengthens our European supply chain, bringing together world-class expertise to support the roll-out of Rolls-Royce SMR technology. Studsvik’s long-standing capabilities in nuclear services make it an ideal partner as we accelerate towards deploying our SMRs across global markets.”

Karl Thedéen, Studsvik president and CEO, said: “Governments and customers around the world have taken decisions on important investments in nuclear power, creating long-term opportunities. We are convinced that [by] working closer together, both organisations will benefit from the acceleration of Rolls-Royce SMR business activities in the Nordics, UK and Europe, supporting stable, clean and reliable energy.”

The latest video in our E+T Expert Engineering series explores SMRs and why miniaturising nuclear technology may prove that smaller is indeed better. Watch it below: