Rolls-Royce | Small Modular Reactors

Rolls-Royce SMR is an independent company backed by the UK Government, global investors and an international nuclear operator.
Our unique ‘factory-built’ approach is the fastest and cheapest way to get new nuclear on the grid - helping meet global net zero ambitions, increase energy security, and further reduce the UK’s reliance on imported hydrocarbons.

[@SA-xf1eb]

The world needs more of this.

[@lg5819]

RR are ready to build Small Modular Reactors across the British isles. And they are ahead of the competition with a head start in development. And yet, time and time again the U.K. government is dillydallying about giving them the go ahead or giving it to hitachi or some other foreign firm. It’s time the british government supported british manufacturers for once.

[@PhilipWong55]

SMRs unless they are based on molten salt still face challenges with radioactive waste, low fuel efficiency, and the risks associated with high-pressure reactor vessels. While SMRs can serve as a short-term solution, Molten Salt Reactors (MSRs) are considered a more promising mid-term solution due to their potential to address these issues more comprehensively. Hopefully, we will have fusion by the time we run out of uranium and thorium. The differences between Light Water Reactors (LWR) and Thorium Molten Salt Reactors (TMSR) are significant in fuel utilization and waste production. LWRs use approximately 0.5-1% of uranium fuel, leading to the generation of long-lived radioactive waste due to inefficient energy conversion and the use of enriched uranium. In contrast, TMSRs can achieve fuel efficiency of up to 99%. This is achieved by converting fertile thorium-232 into fissile uranium-233, substantially reducing waste production and more manageable radioactive waste. Uranium Molten Salt Reactors (UMSR) are just as effective as TMSRs. 800 kg of natural thorium in a Molten Salt Reactor (MSR) can generate 1 gigawatt (GW) of electricity for one year. In comparison, generating the same amount of energy in an LWR would require mining 250 tons of uranium. In an MSR, the storage requirement for 800 kg of spent fuel is 300 years, whereas in a LWR, 35 tons of spent fuel need storage for 300,000 years. MSRs can utilize the spent fuel from LWRs. A coal power station will need to burn 4.55 million tons of coal and emit 13 million tons of carbon dioxide to produce the same amount of energy for one year. That amount of coal contains 4 to 18 tons of uranium, 13 to 68 tons of thorium, and 4 to 45 tons of arsenic. Of the six proposed fourth-generation nuclear reactor types, the MSR is the only type that does not generate substantial amounts of plutonium. The fissile uranium-233 produced by the MSR is difficult to use for weapons because of the presence of highly radioactive uranium-232. MSRs can adjust power output to match electricity demand, thanks to the inherent and automatic load-following capability provided by the fluid nature of the molten salt coolant. A key safety feature of MSR is that it automatically adjusts to prevent overheating. This is achieved through a "negative thermal reactivity coefficient," which means that as the temperature rises, the reactor's reactivity decreases, preventing a runaway chain reaction. Additionally, the MSR has a "negative void reactivity coefficient," ensuring that the reactivity decreases if there is a loss of coolant or boiling, preventing potential overheating. These safety measures help keep the reactor stable and safe under various conditions. Looking ahead to 2040, China plans to deploy Molten Salt Reactors (MSRs) for desalination of seawater, hydrogen production, powering of ships equipped with Thermoacoustic Stirling Generators, and power plants with Supercritical Carbon Dioxide Turbines within its borders and globally. In the Earth's crust, thorium is nearly four times more abundant than uranium. Every atom of natural thorium can be harnessed, unlike natural uranium, where only 1 out of every 139 atoms can be used. China produces thorium as a byproduct of its rare earth processing. Similar to the trends observed with solar and wind technologies, MSR costs are anticipated to decrease with the scaling up of production and the development of robust supply chains.

[@converge8008]

Brilliant comment, and raises valid points 👍

[@blahbleh5671]

Clearly an agenda here. You ignore the significant technical challenges that molten salt reactors using thorium still have where as RR SMRs technology is already proven.

[@LAUGHINGMAN91]

sure except we can build these and they work and motlen salt doesnt so

[@simonjohnson1]

In particular the Stable Salt Reactor seems to be the best option and should be the way forward for the UK.

[@45615]

Very nice demonstration. SMR's production is highly useful in all the countries..to maintain Eco friendly power and individual nations growth economically.

[@pete401]

New Zealand NEEDS this!!!

[@Charley1973]

Small/Micro Modular Reactors--YES!

[@theotherguy6951]

While definitely modular, this reactor is technically not small. A reactor’s power output needs to be under 300MWe to be classified as small but this reactor’s power output is 470MWe. From what I understand Rolls Royce choose this power output because it’s the maximum power they could get from a pressure vessel that could still be transported by road in one piece.

[@simonnewman4240]

Bet you are fun at parties

[@donalddouglas5988]

Sounds good ,but I will believe it when I see pictures of the real thing not computer simulations.

[@kamilgajewski6601]

Great idea! In century of electric cars it will be helpful and protect electric infrastructure.

[@MrJudgementday99]

When?

[@SAMZIRRA]

A million homes for 60 years!

[@clarkkent9080]

The average home uses on average 2 Kwh. SMRs are those that produce 300 Mw or less. Check my math but that works out to 150,000 homes.

[@Fitlad75]

Great news, however should have been funded by the uk government with no american or qatar involvement or other foreign actors. British owned, British built. Be more like Australia

[@jasonhammons3826]

The future

[@H2o143]

Agree 👍

[@user-ju9fv2om6o]

This is the future

[@honestaussie5747]

Can we get these in Australia please? Thanks!

[@zapfanzapfan]

Can you build them in 4 years without government money and no strike price, just accept whatever the sale price of electricity happens to be? If yes, go for it!

[@whatitmeans]

why not use just abandoned mines?... they have the electric infraestructure ready to use, also have minning quality roads, you can place inside the modular reactors keeping them allready buried in case of emergency as also a place to keep the waste, also could have underground pools with no escapes for evaporation losses... it could be operated remotely in case of earthquakes... it could save a lot of costs, and there are plenty of closed mines near some cities.

[@hotshot-te9xw]

This is all really awesome and thank god for these dudes doing this work, WTF IS A BASEBALL PITCH IN LENGTH THAT MAKES NO SENSE AS A UNIT OT MEASUREMENT

[@dennisbasford1813]

How many SMR are in operation globally

[@joesmith8288]

0

[@clarkkent9080]

There is not and never has been economies of SMALL scale in power generation

[@CarmeloRagusa-w7t]

Yep. Let’s wait 20 years for a large nuclear plant to be built.

[@clarkkent9080]

@@CarmeloRagusa-w7t I am just pointing out SMR make no economic sense. New Nuclear is already the most expensive way to generate electrical power and that is what is holding back construction of new plants. So making it even more expensive is probably not the answer.

[@GONER013]

this tech needs to be given to the third world somehow. unfortunately it won't come without heavy security measures to protect it.

[@camresearch5120]

What about the fluid dynamics? Reactors are more efficient the larger the pipe diameters for fluid dynamics. Site costs for security, approvals, social engineering etc. Most of the expenses with low output. It seems more like a Silicon valley glossy brochured investment scheme rather than a practical solution. Interested in your feedback. It seems like a fundamental engineering limitation.

[@clarkkent9080]

there has never been economies of SMALL scale in electrical generation. SMRs will cost significantly more per Mw generated than the current 1Gw standard. And the main thing holding back all new nuclear is the cost so increasing that is really not a good idea

[@XinaCCPFreeTibet]

leak of this tech will greatly help the strategic enemies of global democratic alliance. Imagine an unmanned submarine that can loiter or just wait underwater for years next to your coast .. for orders from some authoritarian ..

[@mjg6966]

60 then to run the country?.

[@michaeldepodesta001]

Sadly too late, too expensive and will never ever get built.

[@desking8065]

A small modular power plant the size of two football fields. Power capacity 420 MwH . Not worth having. that means you need 4 of those reactors to get 1 GwH of power. Which is what a coal power station puts out. You would have to have on of those every 10 km's up the rd.

[@johnhaddock373]

More small reactors rather than fewer large ones will just create more terrorist targets. Please use actual engineering units to describe area, not the size of a football pitch which is pretty meaningless to those of us who have no interest whatsoever in football.

[@Chris-ei5fz]

It’s not really emission free let’s be honest the waste will be capable of dangerous emissions for many lifetimes.

[@florinstoica5357]

To make a modular reactor to help the people on the moon? No thanks! Why not help people on earth with that innovation? Build a numerous numbers of these reactors to give electricity on the cities we live and reduce pollution please, so other countries immediately will follow your example

[@Mr.mysterious76]

Did you even watch the video

[@florinstoica5357]

@@Mr.mysterious76 no, a link from BBC (if I well remember) brings me here saying that rolls-royce wants to give electricity for the people going on the moon 🌙 🤣

[@Mr.mysterious76]

@@florinstoica5357 I think you are confusing it with micro reactors, those are the ones that will be used on the moon and also on earth.

[@SA-xf1eb]

They are trying to do both.

[@moseyburns1614]

If you can't see how advancing space exploration helps those here on Earth then your bloodline deserves to be stuck on this rock forever