A new era for UK nuclear power
Boosting energy security and industry with Great British Energy – Nuclear
Small modular reactors (SMRs) are a potentially game-changing solution to the UK’s energy transition. Modular and factory built, each unit can generate enough low-carbon electricity to power more than a million homes for over 60 years.
With the potential to play a central role in the UK’s decarbonisation journey, Great British Energy – Nuclear (GBE-N) needed to find the right technology partner to build the UK’s first SMRs.
As part of an integrated team led by GBE-N, we partnered with Agilia Infrastructure Partners to support GBE-N in designing and delivering a robust two-year selection process, which resulted in choosing Rolls-Royce SMR as its partner.
Alongside decarbonisation, this exciting partnership is expected to bring new economic opportunities to North Wales, as the Gwyndod site on Anglesey becomes host to the UK’s first SMRs.
We’re proud to have supported an outcome for the UK that’s set to create thousands of jobs in British industry, in construction and supply chains, while strengthening national energy security.
The UK's plan for small modular reactors
Making the UK a clean energy superpower is one of the UK government’s central missions – and shepherding in a new era for nuclear power is one of the UK energy transition’s flagship initiatives.
Representing a new generation of nuclear power, delivering proven technology through standardised, modular, factory‑built components, SMRs offer a major opportunity to reduce reliance on imported fossil fuels.
“Traditionally, building a nuclear power station in the UK happens once in a generation, through an expensive process that takes a long time,” explains James Strother, a director at Deloitte.
“But with small modular reactors, the idea is that a fleet of units can be built rapidly, as needed.”
With the intention to harness and develop SMR technology to boost the UK’s home-grown clean energy resources but no established market for this technology, the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) and Great British Energy – Nuclear (GBE-N) had to think differently about how to get the project off the ground.
“Given the first-of-a-kind nature of SMRs, with no pre-existing roadmap to build them in the UK, we supported GBE-N with the design and delivery of a rigorous competition to select a preferred technology supplier for the UK’s first SMR project,” continues James.
Learning from other major programmes, including Thames Tideway Tunnel and Sizewell C, we worked with GBE-N and its legal and technical advisors to tailor a market-informed process, encouraging participation from potential suppliers and supporting innovation.
Working closely with the GBE-N team and bringing strategic, commercial and finance expertise, Deloitte was able to bring a commercial and financial lens to the challenge.
Building new nuclear technology
A significant moment for the UK’s energy and industrial strategy arrived in April 2026, with the signing of the Small Modular Reactor Technology Partnership agreement between Great British Energy – Nuclear and Rolls-Royce SMR.
Having selected Rolls-Royce SMR as preferred supplier in June 2025, the GBE-N team has worked intensively to finalise the contract, unlocking the next phase of the programme, in which the partners will aim to deliver the first three units on Anglesey.
With £2.6 billion allocated to support the technology partnership with Rolls-Royce SMR, the UK government is providing the largest industrial investment in Wales for a generation, bringing the potential to secure clean power, enhance energy security, drive economic growth and develop valuable expertise.
The benefits will include creating 3,000 jobs at peak construction and thousands more across the UK supply chain. GBE-N has already awarded over £350 million in contracts across the supply chain this year, including to some of the UK’s leading companies.
As one of the first SMR projects in the world expected to reach completion, Gwyndod Power Station is set to move the UK decisively towards national energy security and offers a valuable opportunity to get ahead in the global race to build new nuclear technology – a market, according to the International Energy Agency, projected to reach nearly £500 billion by 2050.
From concept to construction
The pre-revenue capital needed to enable suppliers to get this complex tech off the ground exceeds £1 billion.
A further vital part of the plan, supported by Deloitte and Agilia Infrastructure Partners, comes in the form of an innovative funding mechanism – a bespoke financial package – supported by the National Wealth Fund.
This will secure £599m to support the progression of SMR technology and to accelerate its deployment by Rolls-Royce SMR.
It means that plans to back a British company to deliver our first small modular reactors – including producing a UK-compliant, globally exportable design – can continue at pace.
The collaboration between GBE-N and the Deloitte-Agilia partnership demonstrates the value that can be delivered when the UK government and business join forces to explore new territory and collaborate on first-of-a-kind technology programmes.
“We’re so proud to have supported the mission of Great British Energy – Nuclear to help reach a milestone in delivering future clean energy and provide better outcomes for generations to come,” James concludes.
“Not only have we helped developed a way forward for generating nuclear power from an SMR by the middle of the next decade but we’ve created a blueprint for accelerating the deployment of first-of-a-kind technology, showing how the UK can progress complex projects at speed.”
