Cranberry Township-based Westinghouse Electric Company will develop and design the nuclear fuel for Rolls-Royce’s Small Modular Reactor program, the companies said Wednesday.
Westinghouse is a leading supplier of nuclear fuel with a portfolio across nuclear reactor types, the company said. Rolls-Royce SMR Ltd said it picked Westinghouse based on its ability to deliver innovative fuel technologies at lower fuel-cycle costs with increased operational flexibility and efficiency, supply diversity and accident-tolerant products.
“Placing the contract to design the fuel for the Rolls-Royce SMR is an important step in our program of work as we progress through the GDA (Generic Design Assessment) process with the (United Kingdom’s) nuclear regulators,” said Helena Perry, Rolls-Royce SMR’s Regulatory Affairs and Safety Director. “Westinghouse has a strong heritage and unrivalled experience in nuclear fuel design and manufacturing. Placing this contract with Westinghouse will help deliver our commitment to maximize UK supply chain content and will support a long-term sustainable future for the nuclear industry.
Westinghouse provides nuclear and other clean power technologies and services globally, including the AP300 small modular reactor and the AP1000 reactor. The company is one of six selected by Great British Nuclear to advance to the next phase of SMR competition for innovative nuclear technologies.
“This collaboration between Westinghouse and Rolls-Royce SMR will help drive the future of nuclear fuel deployment. Westinghouse is proud to bring its generations of experience designing and manufacturing fuel in the U.K.,” Tarik Choho, Westinghouse President of Nuclear Fuel said. “This contract presents an exciting opportunity for our Springfields site in Lancashire.”