Great British Nuclear (GBN) has initiated in-depth negotiations with the final four contenders for the UK’s Small Modular Reactor (SMR) programme. The shortlisted companies—GE Hitachi,

Holtec, Rolls Royce SMR, and Westinghouse—advanced to this stage after two rigorous assessment rounds conducted by GBN, the government’s nuclear delivery agency.

In the coming months, GBN will engage with each of the four firms, refining proposals before they submit final bids. A decision is expected in the spring.

To qualify, each company’s design underwent thorough analysis, with GBN evaluating key factors such as safety, feasibility, and their potential to support a fleet of SMRs in the UK. All four designs are currently progressing through the UK regulatory process, and GBN considers each to be a viable candidate for the UK’s nuclear energy programme, pending successful negotiations.

GBN’s Chair, Simon Bowen said, ‘This is a significant moment for the SMR programme. Our technical experts have assessed each design in detail and are very confident these SMRs could play a key role in the UK’s future energy mix. The negotiation phase will enable us to select the absolute best technologies on the best terms for the UK.’ Photo by Nickel nitride, Wikimedia commons.