The cost of SMRs. How Rolls Royce aims to compete with wind and solar

The UK nuclear industry is hoping that claims by Rolls-Royce that small modular reactor (SMR) projects could deliver electricity for a similar cost to offshore wind will provide much-needed impetus to government plans for the country to develop a ''best value'' SMR and put it into commercial operation by the end of the next decade. Rolls-Royce and its consortium partners, including Amec Foster Wheeler, Arup, Laing O'Rourke and Nuvia, say the UK SMR they are developing could produce energy for as low as pound 60 (Euro 66, $ 79) per MWh, which is competitive against wind and solar and significantly lower than the pound 92.50 per MWh agreed by the government and project developer EDF for the new Hinkley Point C nuclear station.