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Laing O’Rourke joins team to build 14 small nuclear reactors
Phil Clark Managing editor
Visualisation of nuclear small modular reactors planned by developer SGE. Image: SGE
Laing O’Rourke has joined a consortium aiming to build 14 small nuclear reactors on three sites in the UK.
The consortium is led by Polish-based developer SGE, which has applied under the UK’s Advanced Nuclear Framework (ANF) to develop a combined 4.2GW fleet of GE Vernova Hitachi BWRX-300 small modular reactors.
The proposal aims to establish a repeatable construction model for the reactors and has bold ambitions for the fleet, claiming they could deliver enough clean power for 11% of UK demand, or enough energy to maintain eight million homes for at least 60 years. The reactor technology proposed is currently being deployed in the Darlington New Nuclear Project in Canada.
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The consortium said it aims to deliver the first unit in 2034, following site selection next year and required site preparation and licensing work. The sites have yet to be announced: the group plans to start by building six units on one location.
Other firms in the consortium – called SGE SMR UK – include GE Vernova Hitachi Nuclear Energy, Samsung C&T, Aecon Group, Google Cloud, Fermi Development and Etara.
SGE founder Michal Solowow said the firm was focused on “delivering efficient, safe, affordable, and clean nuclear energy power at fleet scale”. He added: “We will rely strongly on the UK supply chain; it is a critical element for our project. Our project will create a distinct competitive advantage for the UK economy.”
Laing O’Rourke said it would draw on its experience in nuclear projects as well as pioneering industrialised construction methods for the development of reactors.
Group commercial director John O’Connor said: “We are applying lessons learned from the use of advanced manufacturing in the construction of large-scale and other complex infrastructure to boost safety and certainty for our partners and clients.”
