LONDON, April 1, 2026, 12:05 BST
Rolls-Royce Holdings took another step toward bringing its small modular reactors online this Wednesday, as Great British Energy-Nuclear tapped a joint venture between Amentum and Cavendish Nuclear for the Wylfa project in North Wales. The owner’s engineer contract, valued at up to £300 million ($406 million), could stretch out over 14 years. According to the companies, the deal will back the rollout of Rolls-Royce SMR technology at the site.
This award moves Britain’s first Rolls-Royce SMR project from the selection stage into the nuts-and-bolts of execution planning. Acting as owner’s engineer, the firm takes on the key role of independent technical adviser for the client, handling design, safety, and delivery oversight. SMRs—smaller reactors, built in modules for quicker assembly than conventional plants—are at the heart of the push. For Rolls-Royce, getting a UK project up and running isn’t just about domestic energy; it provides a reference site, crucial as governments consider large-scale exports of the technology.
The timing stands out. On March 31, Rolls-Royce announced it was teaming up with Voltaria on a 43-megawatt battery storage facility in Scotland—marking its first large-scale battery energy storage effort in the UK. With this and the earlier news, the company is making its push into nuclear, batteries, and data-centre power, expanding beyond its traditional aero-engine and defense operations.
Litmus Nuclear, the joint venture led by Amentum alongside Babcock’s Cavendish Nuclear, secured the Wylfa contract. According to the partners, their role covers independent assurance and technical advice—spanning design, safety, engineering, construction, and commissioning—as Great British Energy-Nuclear moves toward a final investment decision.
Mick Gornall, managing director at Cavendish Nuclear, described the appointment as a “landmark” owner’s engineer role. Simon Roddy, chief executive of Great British Energy-Nuclear, said the newly assembled team is expected to push the project forward “with pace and determination”. Babcock International Group
Back in June 2025, following a two-year contest with Westinghouse, Holtec Britain and GE-Hitachi, Britain selected Rolls-Royce SMR—controlled by Rolls-Royce Holdings. By November, Wylfa was picked as the site for the first plant. The government’s stake in the programme now tops £2.5 billion. They expect the initial three 470-megawatt reactors to start up sometime in the mid-2030s, enough juice for roughly 3 million homes.
Still, it’s just the debut build of this new design—and the real challenges lie ahead. Iolo James from the Nuclear Industry Association points to regulatory timelines, funding, and ramping up the supply chain as the major obstacles. Mattia Baldoni at the European Nuclear Society flags the need for more coordination on licensing and component standards. Rolls-Royce SMR remains on track, saying it’s targeting design approval from the Office for Nuclear Regulation by December 2026.
Back in February, Rolls-Royce posted £3.46 billion in underlying operating profit for 2025, highlighting a boost in its power systems business as data-centre construction surged. Looking ahead, the company laid out plans for a £7 billion–£9 billion buyback covering 2026 through 2028. Chief Executive Tufan Erginbilgic also flagged that Rolls-Royce SMR is on track for significant growth.
