SMR transporter
There’s a yawning gap of a decade or so between the end of UK coal-fired power stations in late 2024 and the hoped-for arrival of its potential replacement, new SMR nuclear power.
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Six companies have been selected to advance in the Small Modular Reactor (SMR) competition, reports Energy Live News.
Among the chosen contenders are industry giants like EDF, Rolls Royce and GE-Hitachi Nuclear Energy International LLC.
The SMR competition aligns with the government’s strategic plan to revitalise nuclear power.
The government’s ambition is to have up to a quarter of all UK electricity generated from nuclear power by 2050.
What sets SMRs apart from conventional nuclear reactors is their smaller size and factory-based production.
Experts say this technology has the potential to revolutionise power station construction by making it faster and more cost-effective.
The government and Great British Nuclear, a government-backed entity driving nuclear projects, believe that the designs chosen in this phase exhibit the highest capability to deliver operational SMRs by the mid-2030s.
The next stage of the competition will be launched promptly, enabling successful companies to bid for government contracts.
The goal is to announce government-supported companies in Spring 2024, with contracts awarded by Summer 2024.
The government is also investing in large-scale projects like Sizewell C, closely resembling Hinkley Point C, the first nuclear plant constructed in over a generation.
Full report here.
Tallbloke's Talkshop 
‘We are going to do things differently’: Claire Coutinho rails against net zero ‘religion’
02 October 2023
In addition to confirming that six companies have made it through to shortlist for support for building small modular nuclear reactors (SMR) today, Coutinho announced plans to tweak planning rules to encourage the installation of rooftop solar panels on commercial buildings such as factories, warehouses, and car parks.
https://www.businessgreen.com/news/4130941/claire-coutinho-rails-net-zero-religion
Solar panels dotted around the place won’t replace on-demand coal power. Cloud cuckoo land thinking, or non-thinking, strikes again. Sack the scriptwriters!
“Sack the scriptwriters”
Not necessary. Don’t even replace them with AI. Replace them with Xerox machines.
Hmm, maybe fortuitous that this Newsletter arrived in my box: I/We often have these “projects” but then again we sometimes charge “Fireman’sRates”, Not M8s rates! – is that the way we want our country to be run? http://www.demolitionnews.com/2023/10/02/opinion-out-of-time/
The true cost of net zero? Ruinously high bills, for decades
Abandoning gas will leave us exposed to the expensive pitfalls of renewable energy
NEIL RECORD
2 October 2023
If net zero remains the goal, the price of energy will be forced to rise and rise, and stay at ruinously high levels, as electricity generating capacity is massively increased to at least twice what we need on average, and then underused.
Neil Record is a former Bank of England economist and chairman of Net Zero Watch
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/net-zero/ruinously-high-electricity-bills-decades-true-cost-net-zero/
Over 10 years to develop modular reactors based on current small reactors is pretty ridiculous when our need is so great.
Why did they not just say to Rolls Royce get open with it.
They have been doing it for subs and ship for a long time.
Whey the delay with of a competition?.
Great Britain was the first nation to build a grid scale nuclear power plant – Calder Hall.
Construction began in 1953 and was carried out by Taylor Woodrow Construction using 1950s engineering and construction techniques, was completed in 1956 and was officially opened on 17 October 1956 by Queen Elizabeth II.
Originally designed for a life of 20 years from respectively 1956-1959, the plant was after 40 years until July 1996 granted an operation licence for a further ten years.
The station was closed on 31 March 2003, the first reactor having been in use for nearly 47 years.
Says it all…
Oh wait a meenit! NOw I was wondering whether I got mixed up and thocht CalderHall was in that northernmost County of Inglinshire – Scotlandshire, but no – Sellafield nearby. SO of course I was thinking about our Chapelcross – THE Sister plant to CalderHall.. Funny how tonight BOTH sites feature top of the listing on the search engines here. Thanks for making me refresh our memory.
But what I wanted to say: it took only 3 YEARS t o build and as you say lasted for so long. Thank you UKEA (?)staff.
UK competition rules. ( dare I say EU – Maybe Mercedes could do a better job ?) This is how ridiculous it’s become here. Councils never happy when things go well, nobody complaining – nothing for the minions to do to justify there existence.
construction news today says more on this and other matters
https://www.khl.com/12710.newsletter
The title says six companies but tells us only three:
“Among the chosen contenders are industry giants like EDF, Rolls Royce and GE-Hitachi”
No mention of the other three. Anyone know who they are?
EDF, GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy International LLC, Holtec Britain Limited, NuScale Power, Rolls Royce SMR and Westinghouse Electric Company UK Limited are now to be invited to bid for UK government contracts in the next stage of the process.
https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/UK%C2%A0SMR-selection-contest-Six-companies-into-next