Rolls-Royce SMR partnership expands to additional sites in the Czech Republic

Rolls-Royce SMR, ČEZ and the Czech Ministry of Industry and Trade have entered a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enable site preparation activities at two additional sites, supporting plans to deploy up to 3GW of Small Modular Reactor (SMR) capacity in Czechia. 

Rolls-Royce SMR and ČEZ are already working to deliver the first SMR at the Temelín site in the South Bohemian Region. Today’s signing enables preparatory work to begin at the Tušimice site in the Ústí nad Labem region and Dětmarovice site in the Moravian-Silesian region.

The agreement supports the Czech Republic's ambition to develop a fleet of SMRs and sets the businesses on the path to achieving the targeted 3GW of power from Rolls-Royce SMR units in the country. 

First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Industry and Trade, Karel Havlíček, said: “Nuclear energy is a key pillar of the Czech Republic’s stable and secure energy future, and small modular reactors will be an important part of it. We plan to build the first such reactor at the Temelín Nuclear Power Plant, while at the same time preparing additional sites, for example in the Moravian-Silesian and Ústí regions. At the same time, this represents a technological opportunity of global significance for Czech industry. Without a sufficient supply of our own reliable energy sources, it is impossible to guarantee the country’s long-term energy security and economic stability.”

Chris Cholerton, CEO of Rolls-Royce SMR, said: “We are excited to be working across three sites, which gives us a route to delivering at least six Rolls-Royce SMRs, as we lay the foundations for 3GW of clean, secure electricity in Czechia. 

“This agreement builds on the strong momentum of our partnership with ČEZ and takes us another step closer to fleet deployment in one of Europe's most important SMR markets."

Tomáš Pleskač, member of the ČEZ Board of Directors, said: “Small modular reactors are a global opportunity for Czech industry. Our traditional nuclear companies have a long history and unique know-how, which they can further deepen through their participation in the small modular reactor project. We have already recorded the first successes: the Plzeň-based nuclear company Škoda JS has become one of the two suppliers of key nuclear-island components for the Rolls-Royce SMR. And I believe this is just the beginning. The British company is only just starting to build out its supply chain, and even at this stage we are seeing considerable interest from Czech firms keen on securing their position in the global marketplace.”

Today’s announcement further strengthens Rolls-Royce SMR’s position as Europe’s leading SMR business. Across its key markets, the company is building momentum and unlocking fleet deployment programmes: three units in the UK with the potential for six, a launch programme of three units in Sweden, and now a pathway to six units in Czechia. Together, these programmes demonstrate growing confidence in Rolls-Royce SMR’s technology having been selected in every competitively tendered procurement process in Europe.