Rolls-Royce (LSE: RR., ADR: RYCEY) announces it has signed two trilateral Memorandums of Cooperation with United Kingdom National Nuclear Laboratory (UKNNL) and Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) to accelerate the introduction of advanced nuclear technologies in the UK.
The three parties will cooperate to advance High-Temperature Gas-Cooled Advanced Modular Reactor (AMR) technology and the next generation Coated Particle Fuel (CPF) that powers them. These agreements build upon the existing relationships between Rolls-Royce and UKNNL, and between UKNNL and JAEA.
A formal signing ceremony, to be held on Sunday 14th June at Number 10 Downing Street during the visit of the Prime Minister of Japan, Sanae Takaichi, will highlight the parties’ collective ambition to accelerate the research and development required for deployment of AMRs and to progress the qualification and manufacture of CPF.
The UK’s independent Nuclear Regulatory Taskforce recently identified nuclear technology as being vital to the UK’s economic growth, energy security and national defence. This new trilateral relationship will advance the UK’s proud history of sovereign nuclear technology capability and demonstrates a commitment to strengthening the UK and Japan’s co-operation on clean energy and nuclear technologies.
AMRs can deliver energy resilience and enable decarbonisation across civil, defence and industrial applications. They represent a compact and rapidly deployable nuclear energy solution for off-grid customers who require flexible heat and power that is safe, secure and reliable.
Coated Particle Fuel is a key component in the inherent safety of AMRs; within its core, each particle of uranium is surrounded by protective layers, allowing it to withstand even the most extreme conditions.