The UK's Rolls-Royce SMR has signed a memorandum of understanding with Swedish nuclear technical services provider Studsvik to explore further collaboration and broaden their relationship across Studsvik's full range of services to support the small modular reactor programme.
Studsvik CEO Karl Thedeen (left) and Rolls-Royce SMR CEO Chris Cholerton (Image: Studsvik)
The agreement, signed in Stockholm, enables the two companies to evaluate Studsvik's capabilities and facilities and further explore ways they can support the future deployment of Rolls-Royce SMR's 'factory-built' nuclear power plant. The MoU covers several technical areas, including fuel qualification and testing, plant life management, hot cell technology, core design and operational modelling, and regulatory licensing support.
Earlier this month, Swedish nuclear technical services provider Studsvik announced its acquisition of Swedish SMR project development company Kärnfull Next, expanding its role from supporting the world's existing nuclear fleet to also developing new nuclear projects.
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.
