UK Picks Rolls-Royce to Build First Small Modular Reactors, Drawing U.S. Criticism
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has confirmed that Britain’s first small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs) will be built in north Wales, marking a major milestone in the country’s push for clean energy independence — but the decision has drawn sharp criticism from the United States.
The Wylfa site on the island of Anglesey will host three SMRs developed by Rolls-Royce SMR, backed by a £2.5 billion government investment. The plan is part of Starmer’s wider strategy to revive the UK’s nuclear industry, generate low-carbon power, and create thousands of skilled jobs.
SMRs are compact, factory-built reactors designed to be cheaper and faster to install than conventional nuclear power stations. Each Rolls-Royce unit will generate around 470 megawatts, with production largely based in Derby.
However, the move has sparked a diplomatic rift with Washington. The U.S. ambassador to the UK, Warren Stephens, expressed disappointment that American firm Westinghouse Electric Company was passed over for the contract.
“We are extremely disappointed by this decision,” Stephens said. “There are cheaper, faster, and already-approved options to provide clean, safe energy at this same location. We urge Britain to consider a different path.”
The criticism follows the Trump administration’s recent $80 billion deal with Westinghouse to build several large nuclear plants, a project seen as central to reviving the U.S. nuclear sector.
Despite the U.S. backlash, UK officials defended the decision. A senior government source said:
“This is the right choice for Britain — homegrown clean power from a British company, supporting British jobs.”
The Great British Energy – Nuclear (GBE-N) division will also assess potential sites for future large-scale nuclear plants, with Torness and Hunterston in Scotland reportedly under consideration.
Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said the project symbolizes “a new era of British-made nuclear power” that will help the UK meet its climate goals and strengthen energy security.
The Wylfa site has a long nuclear history — its last reactor closed in 2015, and previous redevelopment attempts, including a Japanese-led project by Hitachi, collapsed in 2019.
In his announcement, Starmer said:
“For too long, places like Anglesey have been let down. This government is reversing that decline — creating good jobs, boosting investment, and securing cheaper, cleaner power for the long term.”
Unions, however, raised concerns. Unite’s General Secretary, Sharon Graham, argued that opting for multiple smaller reactors instead of a single large-scale project could limit job creation.
“Failure to support a gigawatt-scale station at Wylfa would be a missed opportunity for energy security,” she warned.
Industry leaders welcomed the news. Tom Greatrex, CEO of the Nuclear Industry Association, called it “a major opportunity for British technology and skills.”
“To reach the UK’s energy goals, we need both large and small reactors — and strong partnerships with allies, including the United States, will remain vital.”
Rolls-Royce SMR, partly owned by Qatar’s sovereign fund, BNF Resources, Constellation, and Czech utility CEZ, employs over 1,000 engineers and is advancing plans to export its modular reactors to Europe, including Czechia’s Temelín plant.
While the diplomatic tension with Washington may linger, the Wylfa decision signals Britain’s determination to reclaim its position as a global nuclear innovator — powered by domestic expertise and international investment.
