Arup selected to support delivery of UK’s first small modular reactor at Wylfa

Daniel Bevan - Editor

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Engineering consultancy Arup has been appointed to provide early-phase foundation engineering and design support for the proposed small modular reactor (SMR) project at Wylfa.

The contract was awarded by Great British Energy – Nuclear (GBE-N), which is overseeing the development of the project at the Wylfa nuclear site on Anglesey, north Wales.

The site has been selected for the country’s first SMRs and is expected to generate up to 1.5GW of clean electricity once operational.

Arup will work alongside project partners LDA Design, TÜV SÜD Nuclear Technologies, Mace Consult and Gleeds to deliver early-phase foundation engineering.

The work will support optioneering, feasibility assessments and the development of an integrated, site-specific concept design.

Jeremy Stain, Nuclear Business Leader at Arup, commented: “The project represents the first of the UK’s anticipated fleet of small modular reactors and aligns with the UK’s energy policy, supporting the need for all available technologies to address carbon reduction and energy security challenges, with nuclear as a vital part of the energy mix.

“We are delighted to contribute Arup’s multidisciplinary engineering skills and local knowledge to this landmark nuclear project.”

The Wylfa development is expected to position the UK within a growing global SMR market, which is forecast to exceed £500bn by 2050.

The project is also anticipated to deliver significant economic benefits for North Wales, including the creation of up to 3,000 jobs at peak construction and long-term opportunities across the nuclear supply chain.

Rolls‑Royce SMR has been identified as the preferred technology partner bidder for the project.

Simon Roddy, chief executive of Great British Energy – Nuclear, added: “Delivering a safe, high-quality, and integrated site-specific design for the UK’s first SMR requires strong collaboration, innovation and precise technical decision making with our Technology and Foundation Engineering Partners.

“I welcome Arup and their project partners to this landmark nuclear project alongside GBE-N and our preferred technology partner bidder Rolls-Royce SMR.”

The consortium supporting Arup will contribute specialist expertise across multiple areas of the project’s early development.

TÜV SÜD Nuclear Technologies will provide nuclear safety, licensing and regulatory compliance expertise to inform early design decisions and ensure safety considerations are embedded from the outset.

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