Rolls-Royce-CEZ SMR project at Temelín moves forward

A newly signed contract between U.K.-based Rolls-Royce SMR and the ČEZ Group in the Czech Republic will allow for design work to begin on the planned small modular reactors at the Temelín nuclear power plant site in the Czech Republic. The companies, which hope to deploy as much as 3 gigawatts of new nuclear capacity in the country, signed an early works contract that will see them begin preparing for consents, permitting, and licensing and continuing preliminary infrastructure activities as they develop a site application for the SMRs.

In addition, Rolls-Royce SMR has opened an office in Prague-its first office in the Czech Republic. The company will use this location to support the early works contract and its partnership with ČEZ to deploy the advanced reactors.

470-MW SMRs: Rolls-Royce and ČEZ, which is a shareholder in the British firm, previously completed geological studies for the SMRs at Temelín. Already the site of a conventional nuclear power plant, it is intended to be the first of multiple sites in the Czech Republic to host Rolls-Royce's 470-MW SMRs.

Those SMRS are the first new nuclear energy technology developed in the United Kingdom in more than 20 years, "providing a British solution to a global energy crisis," the company said, noting that each unit can provide enough electricity "to power a million homes for at least 60 years-more than any other SMR", and that the technology is "up to eighteen months ahead of competitors in any European regulatory process."

Rolls-Royce SMR CEO Chris Cholerton said that the new contract "unlocks a significant program of work at the Temelín site, which will be delivered alongside our strategic partner and shareholder, ČEZ." He also noted that, with the signing and contractual commitments in place in the U.K. and the Czech Republic, "Rolls-Royce SMR becomes the only company with multiple contractual commitments to deliver SMR units in Europe."

Those other contractual commitments include one with Great British Energy-Nuclear for an SMR project at the site of the decommissioned nuclear power plant in Wylfa, in northern Wales.

Large nuclear plants, too: ČEZ CEO Daniel Beneš noted that his company and country "are counting on" both SMRs and traditional nuclear power plants and renewables to provide energy. "The contract between ČEZ and Rolls-Royce SMR will ensure the preparation of the design, technical, and licensing documentation necessary for the issuance of the necessary permits for the construction of the SMR in Temelín. Equally important is the memorandum of understanding with the government. Government support is essential for such a large project, just as it is for the construction of the new nuclear units at Dukovany. Together, we will address, among other things, the investor model and possible sources of financing."

In addition to its partnership with Rolls-Royce SMR, ČEZ is working with Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power on potential new nuclear projects at the Dukovany nuclear power plant site and at Temelín.