Rolls-Royce SMR has signed a contract with Skanska UK to deliver an aseismic bearing pedestal demonstrator for its small modular reactor (SMR) programme.

These structural isolation devices are central to the factory-built nuclear plant's design, decoupling buildings and infrastructure from ground motion during seismic events to improve safety and resilience.

The work will be carried out at Skanska's fabrications facility in Doncaster, England, and will include building a prototype of the aseismic bearing pedestal. The demonstrator is intended to enable standardisation of the Rolls-Royce SMR design across a wide range of geotechnical and seismic conditions.

Ruth Todd CBE, Rolls-Royce SMR Operations and Supply Chain Director, said: "Working with Skanska is a significant step forward in proving the capability of our aseismic bearing technology and demonstrating our modular approach to construction. By working with a trusted delivery partner, we are de-risking our ‘fleet-based’ approach and creating opportunities for more British and Czech suppliers to play a key role the Rolls-Royce SMR mission."

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Skanska, one of the world's leading project development and construction companies, delivers complex building and infrastructure projects across sectors such as energy and transport. Headquartered in Sweden, it has a strong presence in the UK, North America and Europe, including the Czech Republic, and brings decades of civil engineering, project management and sustainable construction expertise.

Adam McDonald, Executive Vice President at Skanska UK, said: "We'll be bringing our civil engineering, design and fabrications expertise to build and test a first-of-its-kind pre-cast bearing pedestal – a critical component for Rolls-Royce SMR in building new nuclear power generation. Over the coming months, we'll develop the prototype and run various technical trials at our Bentley Works facility in Doncaster. We are looking forward to playing our part in developing the next generation of nuclear energy."

Rolls-Royce SMR has been named preferred bidder in the Great British Energy – Nuclear (GBE-N) SMR competition and by European utility ČEZ to deliver up to three gigawatts of new nuclear power in the Czech Republic. GBE-N recently confirmed Wylfa on Ynys Môn (Anglesey) as the site for the UK's first SMRs, aiming to provide up to 1.5GW of low-carbon energy to the grid, support the UK’s net zero goals and create an estimated 8,000 quality long-term British jobs.