Nuclear Energy 24 April 2026

Rolls-Royce Holdings plc’s small nuclear reactor arm inked an early-works contract with Czech utility CEZ on Friday, pushing forward the Czech Republic’s debut small modular reactor project at the Temelín nuclear facility. The company noted the deal marks another European commitment for its SMR unit, following a UK contract signed earlier this month. Right now, what’s at stake for Rolls-Royce is converting years of talk about nuclear exports into firm contracts—no more just collecting government endorsements or being shortlisted for tech. Landing the Czech deal hands the company a new European foothold, crucial as policymakers hunt for reliable, low-carbon energy sources to complement renewables and conventional nuclear plants.