Arup to support delivery of the UK's first SMR

Arup - together with project partners LDA Design, TÜV SÜD Nuclear Technologies, Mace Consult and Gleeds - will deliver early phase foundation engineering to assist Great British Energy - Nuclear (GBE-N) in delivering optioneering, feasibility and a subsequently integrated site-specific concept design.

Arup said its partners will be key to the successful delivery of the work. It said TÜV SÜD Nuclear Technologies brings deep expertise in nuclear safety, licensing and regulatory compliance, providing critical input to early design decisions and ensuring that safety considerations are embedded from the outset. LDA Design is a placemaking consultancy specialising in design, planning, and the environment. It will lead the master planning process and has a wealth of experience on major infrastructure and other UK nuclear projects, including Sizewell C. Mace Consult will leverage its major programme delivery capabilities to support programme implementation, integration and optimisation. Gleeds will contribute its expertise in cost engineering to the early phases of the site and infrastructure development.

"The project represents the first of the UK's anticipated fleet of small modular reactors and aligns with the UK's energy policy, supporting the need for all available technologies to address carbon reduction and energy security challenges, with nuclear as a vital part of the energy mix," said Jeremy Stain, Nuclear Business Leader at Arup. "We are delighted to contribute Arup's multidisciplinary engineering skills and local knowledge to this landmark nuclear project."

GBE-N CEO Simon Roddy added: "Delivering a safe, high-quality, and integrated site-specific design for the UK's first SMR requires strong collaboration, innovation and precise technical decision making with our Technology and Foundation Engineering Partners. I welcome Arup and their project partners to this landmark nuclear project alongside GBE-N and our preferred technology partner bidder Rolls-Royce SMR."

The UK government launched GBE-N in 2023 as an arms-length body that will be responsible for driving the delivery of new nuclear projects, with the aim of increasing the share of nuclear in the UK's electricity mix from the current 15% to 25% by 2050.

In November last year, the government announced that Wylfa will host three Rolls-Royce small modular reactors. It said the site - where a Magnox plant is being decommissioned - could potentially host up to eight SMRs.

The Rolls-Royce SMR is a 470 MWe design based on a small pressurised water reactor. It will provide consistent baseload generation for at least 60 years. Ninety percent of the SMR - measuring about 16 metres by 4 metres - will be built in factory conditions, limiting activity on-site primarily to assembly of pre-fabricated, pre-tested, modules which significantly reduces project risk and has the potential to drastically shorten build schedules.

GBE-N said it will start activity on the site this year with the aim for Wylfa's SMRs to be supplying power to the grid from the mid-2030s.

Earlier this month, UK land and property consultancy Fisher German secured a contract to provide GBE-N with expert advice during the planning and delivery of its SMR project. Under the contract, Fisher German will provide a broad range of services from across the firm to help the project move forward, including its property management, advisory, and infrastructure divisions. The team will provide estate management services in the pre-construction phase, including activities associated with agency and lease arrangements; consents and easements; and estate and asset management.