The UK SMR programme is one of the key elements of HMG strategy for net zero, by 2050.

The programme is a key element of The Governement's 10 point plant, the Government has committed a £215m investment to the second phase of the project. The total cost of Phase 2 being £500m.

BAM are providing one of the key innovations to the programme, as BAM have designed and developed a unique solution for delivery of the SMR programme. BAM have created a “Site Factory” concept that has a patent pending. The site Factory provides a significant cost reduction to the delivery of the work, as well as providing a significant mitigation to support the EAI assessment that is required for the SMR DCO.

The programme of delivery is for the project to be taking orders in the next 18 months, with construction to be started 2025, with Power on the grid by 2030.

Delivering low-cost, low-carbon power to sustain future economic growth in the UK

BAM Nuttall is involved in a consortium led by Rolls Royce to develop, commercialise, and implement a fleet of Small Modular Nuclear Reactors (SMRs).

SMRs can address the most significant challenges associated with conventional new nuclear power stations - high cost and long schedules.

SMRs generate about a tenth of the output of a typical conventional new nuclear power station. Rolls Royce established a target to construct each SMR within 500 days, which seemed impossible to achieve using traditional construction techniques.

The consortium members have collaborated to combine approaches from the manufacturing sector, new technology, innovations, and BAM’s specialist nuclear sector construction knowledge, to create a solution.

Sustainable solution

The result has achieved the development of techniques that achieve productivity improvements needed to meet the 500-day target and benefit the environment, health and safety, and diversity.

Streamlined, advanced manufacturing processes underpin the production of standardised sections in factories off-site. Components, transported to the site, are assembled rapidly inside a weather-proof canopy. Working inside means avoiding disruption costs caused by weather, and employees work in safe, comfortable conditions.

The construction industry has used off-site prefabrication of assets over recent years. Swift adoption has created a boom, driven by benefits including reduced time spent by people on-site, improving health and safety performance; greater quality control, less waste; the ability to scale and accelerate.

Our SMR solution effectively evolves the energy programme from a construction-based setting to using manufacturing techniques, achieving the same benefits.

These new ways of working demand new, digital skills and create career opportunities in environments that attract a broader range of people – being both more comfortable than a traditional construction site and a safer workplace.

Tackling climate change and supporting economic growth

Addressing climate change is not only our planet’s most pressing long term challenge but also can be a crucial economic opportunity. The SMR power station is affordable, fast to deploy and is an attractive investment that will stimulate tens of thousands of jobs regionally, embedding prosperity and quality of life for decades to come.

Partners

The consortium members represent the best of British nuclear energy capability, infrastructure project experience, and manufacturing technology. The consortium comprises Rolls-Royce, Assystem, SNC Lavalin, Wood, Arup, Laing O’Rourke, BAM Nuttall, Siemens, National Nuclear Laboratory (NNL), and Nuclear AMRC.