Rolls-Royce SMR signs MOU with Sheffield Forgemasters

Rolls-Royce SMR has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Sheffield Forgemasters to jointly explore commercial mechanisms for a long-term collaboration on the supply of forgings to the Rolls-Royce UK Small Modular Reactor (SMR) fleet.

The project directly supports the UK’s civil nuclear renaissance and the development of SMRs in the UK, with Sheffield Forgemasters able to supply the complex, nuclear-grade demonstrator forgings as part of the regulatory process.

These important components will benefit from the decades of experience Sheffield Forgemasters has built up and its world class delivery experience. 

Tom Samson, Rolls-Royce SMR’s CEO, commented: “Sheffield Forgemasters are world leaders in complex, safety-critical forgings and castings and we are incredibly fortunate to have their experience to support and enable our SMR programme. This agreement is the start of an enduring partnership and reflects our commitment to the UK supply chain as we look to re-build and re-energise the vital UK nuclear supply chain.”

The agreement was signed at Nuclear 21, the Nuclear Industry Association’s key industry event, which brings together stakeholders across the nuclear industry. It follows the creation of Rolls-Royce SMR Ltd which has been established to bring forward and deliver the next generation of low cost, low carbon nuclear power technology.

David Bond, CEO of Sheffield Forgemasters commented: “SMR's have the potential to become the standard for civil nuclear power generation and as an emerging market, fits extremely well with our long track record of supplying nuclear power components into the UK submarine programme.

“With a new investment fund of £400m to replace our defence critical assets, including the provision of a new 13,000 tonne forging line and 19 state-of-the-art machining centres, we will create much higher levels of manufacturing capability and efficiency, to the benefit of defence nuclear work, but with obvious cross-benefits for civil nuclear activity, including SMR’s.

“Rolls-Royce is advancing plans for factory assembled SMR’s in the UK and Sheffield Forgemasters is well positioned to be a UK supply chain partner in the delivery of complex, finished and semi-finished nuclear grade components into the SMR build programme.”

The Rolls Royce SMR is a based on proven nuclear technology, delivered in an innovative way, using offsite, factory built, modular assembly, removing construction complexity. This repeatable, standardised approach makes nuclear affordable, deliverable, scalable, global and investable. 

When fully operational the Rolls-Royce SMR programme will create 40,000 UK jobs primarily across the North and Midlands where the majority of UK nuclear expertise is located, with the potential for £52bn in economic benefits from export.

Contact

Rolls-Royce SMR

Alastair Evans

Director of Corporate and Government Affairs – SMR

0044 (0) 7553 207 591

0044 (0) 7595 003 158

alastair.evans@rolls-royce.com

Sheffield Forgemasters

Billy Greenhalgh

Head of Communications

0044 (0) 7730 527 270

bgreenhalgh@sfel.com

Notes to Editors

Rolls-Royce SMR Ltd

A Rolls-Royce SMR power station will have the capacity to generate 470MW of low carbon energy, equivalent to more than 150 onshore wind turbines. It will provide consistent baseload generation for at least 60 years, helping to support the roll out of renewable generation and overcome intermittency issues.

Potential global demand for SMRs is valued between £250 and £400 billion. The UK now has the opportunity to become a world-leader in its own SMR reactor and to export its skills and knowledge around the globe.

Sheffield Forgemasters

Casting and Forging solutions for the World’s most complex engineering challenges.

Sheffield Forgemasters specialises in the design and manufacture of high integrity forgings and castings offering end-to-end manufacture for steel production from a single site in the UK.

Global markets served include Defence, Marine, Civil Nuclear, Steel Processing, Offshore, Renewables, Power Generation, High Pressure Reactors, Steel Plant and Ingot & Bar.

The company also offers design, project management, steel melting, forging, casting, machining, testing and delivery. In addition, a number of specialist services are available onsite and through an extensive supplier network.

Some of the largest bespoke engineered steel products in the world are produced at the Brightside Lane facility with capacity for castings of up to 350 tonnes and forgings of up to 200 tonnes finished weight.