In early August 2025, Rolls-Royce SMR signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Czech nuclear engineering company ŠKODA JS, aiming to collaborate on the production of critical components for the company's small modular reactors (SMRs) destined for global deployment.

(Image: Rolls-Royce SMR)

ŠKODA JS, with decades of experience in Europe's nuclear sector, is expected to manufacture key parts in line with Rolls-Royce SMR’s quality and regulatory standards. Czech utility CEZ—a strategic partner—highlighted that this agreement strengthens opportunities for domestic participation in future Czech SMR projects, aligning with national efforts to revitalize the local nuclear supply chain.

In parallel, Rolls-Royce SMR also signed a contract with UJV Rez, a Czech research and engineering institute, covering analysis and testing of key SMR components. This will further support potential deployment in Central Europe.

These developments reinforce the Czech Republic’s ambition to become one of the first countries in Europe to host a UK-designed SMR.

Curtiss-Wright to Supply Reactor Safety Systems

In June 2025, Rolls-Royce SMR entered a multi-million-pound strategic partnership with Curtiss-Wright, whose UK-based nuclear business was formerly known as Ultra Energy.

Under the agreement, Curtiss-Wright will supply a non-programmable reactor protection system (RPS), designed to shut down the reactor safely in emergency conditions. The system operates without software or microprocessors, using proven hardwired electronic technology—an essential feature for nuclear safety compliance.

Manufacturing and design work will take place at Curtiss-Wright’s UK facility in Dorset, supporting the growth of the local nuclear supply chain and contributing to skilled employment in the region.

UK SMR Selection and National Deployment Milestones

Since July 2023, Rolls-Royce SMR has been advancing through the UK’s SMR selection process, managed by Great British Nuclear (now Great British Energy – Nuclear). In June 2025, it was selected as one of the preferred vendors to build the UK’s first SMRs.

The UK government committed £2.5 billion in funding, with plans to construct three SMR units, supplying electricity to around 3 million homes and creating up to 3,000 jobs. Rolls-Royce’s SMR has a design capacity of 470 MW, larger than many other SMRs, and is currently undergoing Generic Design Assessment (GDA) by UK regulators. It is the first UK SMR design to reach stage three of the assessment.

International Expansion: CEZ Strategic Partnership

In October 2024, Czech utility CEZ signed an agreement to acquire a 20% equity stake in Rolls-Royce SMR, confirming plans to build SMRs at the Temelín nuclear site. The first unit is expected to be operational by the early 2030s, with future expansion targets up to 3 GW.

The move aligns with the Czech Republic’s transition away from coal and supports national energy security while embedding local industrial capabilities into the SMR value chain.

2023–2025 Rolls-Royce SMR Timeline

The progress over the past three years highlights Rolls-Royce SMR’s momentum in both domestic and international markets:

• In the UK: Secured government backing, advancing regulatory approval, and built key partnerships to localize manufacturing and safety systems.

• In Central Europe: Formalized supply agreements with ŠKODA JS and CEZ, indicating serious interest in deploying British SMRs in Czech territory.

• On supply chain: Developing reliable, proven, and local supplier networks for both mechanical and safety-critical systems.

These agreements show a deliberate effort to scale up globally deployable SMR solutions while anchoring supply chain components in long-established nuclear industries like the UK and Czech Republic.