Britain is preparing to make a bold leap into the future of energy with the announcement of its first small modular reactor (SMR) power station, set to rise on the windswept coast of Anglesey in North Wales. The government revealed on November 13, 2025, that three state-of-the-art SMRs, designed by Rolls-Royce and built by the publicly-owned Great British Energy-Nuclear, will be constructed at Wylfa—the site of a former nuclear power plant that shut its doors a decade ago. The move, described by Simon Bowen, chair of Great British Energy-Nuclear, as a "historic moment for the UK," is expected to deliver low-carbon power to millions of homes within the next decade, marking a pivotal chapter in the nation’s quest for energy security and sustainability.
Each of the new reactors will be capable of generating 470 megawatts of electricity, enough to supply one million homes apiece. In total, the trio will power up to three million homes for at least 60 years, according to government data cited by Daily Mail and Gasworld. The entire facility, with its strikingly modern rectangular design, will cover an area roughly the size of two football pitches—an impressive feat of compact engineering. Construction is scheduled to support up to 3,000 jobs at its peak, offering a significant boost to the local economy and rekindling Wylfa’s proud tradition of nuclear excellence.
Energy Secretary Ed Miliband was quick to frame the project as a cornerstone of the government’s broader clean energy mission. “This is the government’s clean energy mission in action – driving for energy sovereignty and abundance to take back control of our energy,” Miliband declared, reflecting the administration’s determination to reduce reliance on imported fossil fuels and volatile international markets. The government has earmarked £2.5 billion for the project, signaling its commitment to making SMRs a central pillar of Britain’s energy future.
But what exactly are SMRs, and why are they generating so much buzz? Unlike the hulking, bespoke reactors of the past—such as Hinkley Point C in Somerset, which is still under construction—SMRs are designed to be built in factories, shipped to their destination, and assembled on-site. This modular approach, advocates say, should make them quicker and cheaper to construct. Traditional nuclear power plants typically boast capacities around 1,000 megawatts and require years, if not decades, to bring online. In contrast, SMRs are defined as having a capacity of up to 300 megawatts, though the Rolls-Royce design for Wylfa exceeds that at 470 megawatts, pushing the boundaries of the category.
SMRs generate energy through the same basic principle as their larger cousins: nuclear fission. By forcing radioactive elements—usually uranium—to split apart, they release heat, which is then used to produce steam and drive turbines that generate electricity. Some advanced SMR designs even promise the ability to use high-temperature heat for industrial processes, such as the production of carbon-free hydrogen through efficient electrolysis or thermochemical water splitting. This could open the door to commercial-scale hydrogen production, a tantalizing prospect for industries seeking cleaner alternatives to fossil fuels.
Still, not everyone is convinced that SMRs are the magic bullet the UK hopes for. Critics point out that the technology remains largely untested at commercial scale. Ed Lyman, director of nuclear power safety at the Union of Concerned Scientists, offered a blunt assessment: “The hype surrounding SMRs is way overblown. They are not more economical than large reactors, not generally safer or more secure, and will not reduce the problem of what to do with radioactive waste.” Lyman also warned that SMRs, like traditional nuclear plants, remain vulnerable to extreme weather events or disasters that could force shutdowns, and that there’s “virtually no experience with operating SMRs worldwide.”
Concerns about cost linger as well. While SMRs are designed for mass production, some experts doubt they can achieve the economies of scale necessary to make them truly competitive with larger plants or with rapidly falling prices for renewables like solar and wind. And then there’s the issue of nuclear waste: SMRs, like all fission reactors, produce long-lived radioactive materials that must be safely managed for generations.
Despite these doubts, the UK is not alone in betting on SMRs. Similar projects are underway in China and Russia, while in the US, TerraPower—backed by Bill Gates—has applied for a permit to build a 345-megawatt reactor, and Google is supporting the construction of seven SMRs by Kairos Power to supply its energy-hungry data centers. Closer to home, the UK government is also working closely with the US on nuclear initiatives, including commercial deals for up to 12 advanced modular reactors in Hartlepool, according to Gasworld. Rolls-Royce SMR has even partnered with Czechia’s largest public company, ČEZ, which acquired a 20% stake in the venture, underscoring the international interest in British nuclear innovation.
The Wylfa site itself may only be the beginning. While the current plan is to build three SMR units, Great British Energy-Nuclear believes the location could eventually host up to eight, further expanding its role in the UK’s energy landscape. The company also owns the Oldbury nuclear site in Gloucestershire, another former nuclear facility with potential for new projects—possibly even privately led ones. The government has made clear that this decision “rights the wrongs” of earlier failures to deliver new nuclear capacity, hoping to usher in a new era of energy resilience.
Not everyone is celebrating, though. US ambassador Warren Stephens expressed his “extreme disappointment” at the selection of SMRs over a larger gigawatt-scale reactor proposed by US firm Westinghouse. “If you want to get shovels in the ground as soon as possible and take a big step in addressing energy prices and availability, there is a different path, and we look forward to decisions soon on large-scale nuclear projects,” Stephens said, suggesting that high energy costs could strain the UK’s role as a strategic ally to the United States.
For now, Wylfa’s new SMR power station is expected to connect to the grid in the mid-2030s, with hopes high that it will become a beacon for a new nuclear golden age. Whether SMRs will live up to their promise—or fall short of the hype—remains to be seen. What’s certain is that the eyes of the world’s energy industry will be watching North Wales closely in the years to come, as Britain bets big on a compact nuclear future.
As the UK embarks on this ambitious journey, the outcome at Wylfa will shape not only its own energy landscape but could also set the tone for nuclear innovation worldwide.
