Collaboration widens for Rolls-Royce SMRs in the Netherlands

Wednesday, 8 November 2023

In August 2022, Rolls-Royce SMR of the UK signed an exclusive agreement with ULC-Energy to collaborate on the deployment of Rolls-Royce SMR power plants in the Netherlands. ULC-Energy - established in 2021 and based in Amsterdam - aims to accelerate decarbonisation in the Netherlands by developing nuclear energy projects that efficiently integrate with residential and industrial energy networks in the country.

In September 2022, ULC-Energy signed a memorandum of understanding with US utility Constellation - a minority shareholder in Rolls-Royce SMR Limited - to support the deployment of a fleet of Rolls-Royce SMRs in the Netherlands.

Rolls-Royce SMR said it has now signed a memorandum of understanding with construction company BAM Infra Nederland to explore the opportunities for collaboration to support deployment of its SMRs in the Netherlands.

"Together with our strategic partner, Rolls-Royce SMR, we are forging a long-term plan that contributes to the energy transition in the Netherlands," said Sander den Blanken, director of commercial business development at BAM Infra Nederland. "We can achieve this by developing a robust and modular solution, bringing an alternative energy source for our country one step closer. We bring innovation at a scale that minimises speed and risk through our industrial approach and, with this development, we take a significant step towards a more sustainable Netherlands."

Rich Everett, group head of supply chain for Rolls-Royce SMR, said: "We are delighted to explore opportunities for collaboration with BAM Infra Nederland, which builds on the successful partnership that we have developed with BAM Nutall in the UK - which is also part of the BAM Group."

"ULC-Energy is pleased with the collaboration with BAM Infra Nederland," added ULC-Energy CEO Dirk Rabelink. "Developing nuclear energy projects is a long-term process and stable, complementary and long-term partnerships are crucial to our success.

"With the design of the Rolls-Royce SMRs, we are building on Rolls-Royce's knowledge and experience built up over several decades in the field of producing nuclear reactors. The fully standardised SMRs are designed to exceed all rules and guidelines of the leading licensing authorities. In combination with the application of proven reactor and fuel technology, we can reduce the risks of delays and changes due to the permitting process."

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. 90% of the SMR - about 16 metres by 4 metres - will be built in factory conditions, limiting on-site activity primarily to assembly of pre-fabricated, pre-tested, modules which significantly reduces project risk and has the potential to drastically shorten build schedules.

According to ULC-Energy, a single Rolls-Royce SMR could provide enough electricity for 1.4 million Dutch households.

Earlier this month, ULC-Energy and Rolls-Royce SMR signed an agreement with Denmark's Topsoe to jointly investigate the production of hydrogen using Topsoe's Solid Oxide Electrolysis Cell technology with both electricity and heat produced by a Rolls-Royce SMR nuclear power plant.