Contest launched to name UK's first SMR plant

Great British Energy - Nuclear says the other qualities they are looking for in the name are it being "inspired by Anglesey, its heritage, landscape or language" and "respectful, inclusive and community-minded" while also being "unique and not already widely used for similar energy projects".

In their bilingual invitation to take part in the contest, the UK government's arms-length delivery agency for new nuclear capacity, said: "This project will be part of Anglesey's story for generations to come, and we believe that the name should come from the people who know the Island best. Children and young people are welcome to take part, including through schools. Your suggestions will be reviewed by a panel of local young people from Anglesey, alongside community and industry leaders."

_{An inspiring overhead view of the Wylfa site (Image: Arup)}

CEO of Great British Energy - Nuclear, Simon Roddy, said: "Wylfa is a first‑of‑a‑kind project for the UK, with long‑term benefits both locally and nationally ... we are serious about delivering it safely, responsibly and with the community at its heart."

Rolls-Royce SMR was selected as the UK government's preferred technology for the country's first small modular reactor (SMR) project in June last year, and GBP2.6 billion was allocated in the 2025 Spending Review towards the project.

In November, the government announced that Wylfa on Anglesey would host an initial 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.

The orginal Wylfa nuclear power plant's two 490 MW units operated from 1971 to 2012 and 2015 respectively. In 2012, Hitachi bought the Wylfa site and proposed constructing a new power station, featuring UK Advanced Boiling Water Reactors, to be called ‘Wylfa Newydd’, on adjacent land. However Hitachi dropped these plans in 2020.

Nuclear power plants commonly adopt the name of the place they are located or the name of a nearby place. For instance, the Hinkley Point site is based in the Hinkley Point area of Somerset.

Anglesey residents have until 17:00 on 8 June to submit their suggested names.