The UK and US governments have signed an agreement to expand cooperation on advanced nuclear technologies, aimed at accelerating the development and deployment of new reactor systems in both countries. The initiative, called the Atlantic Partnership for Advanced Nuclear Energy, is intended to streamline licensing processes and enable faster construction of nuclear power facilities.
According to official estimates, the global market for advanced nuclear technology could reach several trillion dollars by 2050. In the United States alone, nuclear capacity is forecast to increase from 100 gigawatts electric (GWe) to 400 GWe over the same period.
Rolls-Royce said it sees opportunities to contribute to this growth through its Small Modular Reactor (SMR) program and other advanced nuclear projects.
Tufan Erginbilgic, CEO of Rolls-Royce, stated:
“We welcome the commitment of the US and UK Governments to accelerate the deployment of advanced nuclear technologies and secure an independent supply of advanced nuclear fuel. Nuclear will play a critical role in the energy resilience and security of both nations. Rolls-Royce has unique capabilities in nuclear as the only company globally with full lifecycle experience, end-to-end capability and an established supply-chain.”
He added:
“As the preferred bidder to develop the UK’s first Small Modular Reactors (SMR) we particularly welcome the commitment of the UK Government and Great British Energy – Nuclear to speed up deployment, through an accelerated licencing process alongside vital planning reforms, to get nuclear project sites in the UK approved more quickly. Delivering our three SMRs will enable us to support an average of almost 8,000 highly skilled UK jobs per year and accelerate the delivery of power to the grid, reducing energy bills, to the mid-2030s.
“We are also pleased to announce we have entered the US regulatory process for our SMR, a critical step to paving the way for additional jobs and investment potential in the US.”
UK Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, Ed Miliband, also welcomed the agreement, saying:
“The nuclear opportunities Rolls Royce is exploring in the US represent the potential for exceptional job creation and economic growth in the UK, after Rolls Royce was selected by Great British Energy – Nuclear earlier this year as a preferred bidder to build the UK's first small modular nuclear reactors.
“By working with the US, we will reap the benefits of this golden age of nuclear, powering British homes with clean, homegrown energy, delivering well-paid skilled jobs and getting energy bills down for good.”
Rolls-Royce has long-standing ties with the US in nuclear technology, including work with BWXT and participation in Project Pele, focused on developing an advanced modular reactor. The company was chosen in June 2025 as the preferred bidder to build the UK’s first commercial SMR, with plans to supply power to the grid by the mid-2030s. The firm projects that a fleet of SMRs could add £54 billion to the UK economy while creating export opportunities.
Internationally, Rolls-Royce SMR has been selected by CEZ in the Czech Republic to deliver up to 3 gigawatts of power and has been shortlisted by Swedish energy company Vattenfall as a potential SMR supplier.
