UK, Japan, and Rolls-Royce unite to accelerate next-gen nuclear reactors

The Japan Atomic Energy Agency, the UK’s National Nuclear Laboratory, and Rolls-Royce have signed new trilateral agreements to advance High-Temperature Gas-Cooled Reactors. These deals aim to strengthen cooperation on reactor technology and coated particle fuel. The partnerships build on earlier collaborations to push forward nuclear innovation. In September 2023, the UK’s National Nuclear Laboratory and the Japan Atomic Energy Agency first agreed to work together on HTGRs. This included support for the UK’s demonstration reactor programme. The latest agreements now bring Rolls-Royce into the partnership.

The new memorandums cover High-Temperature Gas-Cooled Advanced Modular Reactor technology. They expand on past deals between UKNNL and Rolls-Royce, as well as between UKNNL and Japan’s Atomic Energy Agency. Rolls-Royce is also developing its own Advanced Modular Reactor, with a capacity of up to 25 MWe or 75 MWth per unit.

The UK government has committed £60 million to HTGR research. The goal is to launch a demonstration project by the end of the decade. These reactors are expected to improve energy resilience and support decarbonisation in civil, defence, and industrial sectors. The three-way agreements combine expertise from both countries. They position the UK and Japan as leaders in advanced nuclear technology. The partnerships could accelerate the deployment of HTGRs worldwide.