Holtec has chosen South Yorkshire for a £1.5 billion factory to build small modular reactors (SMRs).
- The decision follows a competitive selection process involving locations across the UK, including the West Midlands and Cumbria.
- The factory is expected to generate up to 3,000 new high-tech jobs in the region.
- South Yorkshire was selected due to its strategic location and skilled workforce.
- This development marks a significant step towards the UK’s nuclear energy revival.
Holtec, a nuclear energy company based in Florida, has announced South Yorkshire as the preferred site for its new £1.5 billion facility to manufacture small modular reactors (SMRs). This decision comes after carefully evaluating various potential locations across the UK, such as the West Midlands, Cumbria, and Teesside. These reactors are considered crucial to the UK’s nuclear energy revival strategy.
The proposed factory in South Yorkshire is anticipated to create up to 3,000 high-tech jobs, thus providing a substantial economic boost to the region. The county was chosen over other challengers due to several practical advantages, including proximity to Sheffield Forgemasters, who specialise in complex castings necessary for reactor housings. The local workforce also offers considerable expertise rooted in a rich tradition of heavy engineering.
Gareth Thomas, Director of Holtec Britain, expressed satisfaction with the enthusiasm shown by various UK regions, emphasising the strong support received from local authorities. He stated, “Holtec Britain was impressed by the resounding interest in our new SMR factory across the UK and the strong support received by the local authorities during our engagements.”
Oliver Coppard, the Mayor of South Yorkshire, highlighted the region’s longstanding engineering heritage and its potential role in the clean energy transition. Coppard remarked, “In South Yorkshire, we’re building on hundreds of years of innovation and engineering heritage to create world-leading facilities, skills, and expertise today; assets that will power the clean energy transition in the UK and beyond.”
The SMR technology proposed by Holtec and other contenders is seen as a pivotal development in nuclear power. Unlike traditional reactors that require on-site construction, SMRs are assembled from modules manufactured in factories, potentially reducing both costs and time required for construction. This technology is a focal point in the governmental competition overseen by Great British Nuclear, which aims to select two companies to advance in the development of SMRs within the UK. This competition currently features five companies, including Holtec, vying for government support.
The establishment of Holtec’s factory in South Yorkshire signifies a pivotal advancement in the UK’s nuclear sector, reinforcing its clean energy future.
