UK Picks Anglesey for Nation’s First Small Modular Reactors, Launching Major Nuclear Revival
Wylfa site on Anglesey chosen for three Rolls-Royce SMRs, with up to eight units planned and power generation targeted by mid-2030s
The United Kingdom has confirmed that Wylfa, on the island of Anglesey in North Wales, will host the country’s first small modular reactor (SMR) power station — a key element of the government’s push to rebuild Britain’s nuclear capacity and secure long-term energy independence.
The announcement, made in November 2025, positions the project as a cornerstone of the UK’s “Clean Energy Superpower” strategy.
Under the plan, publicly owned Great British Energy - Nuclear (GBE-N) will oversee the development, deploying three 470-megawatt SMRs designed by Rolls-Royce SMR.
The site was chosen not only for its existing nuclear legacy but also for its demonstrated capacity to host advanced energy infrastructure.
While the initial build includes three reactors, the site could potentially expand to accommodate up to eight SMRs in total.
Construction work is expected to begin in 2026, with the reactors anticipated to supply low-carbon electricity to the grid from the mid-2030s.
When fully operational, the plant could provide power equivalent to that needed by around three million homes nationwide.
At peak construction, up to 3,000 jobs will be created in Anglesey and neighbouring communities — a major economic boost for the region.
Officials have described the Wylfa SMR project as a turning point for the UK’s nuclear sector.
By embracing modular, factory-built reactor technology, they argue, Britain can avoid the long delays and high costs that have hampered traditional large nuclear plants, while rapidly scaling up clean energy capacity to meet net-zero climate and energy-security goals.
Local stakeholders have welcomed the decision.
Institutions such as the region’s leading universities and manufacturing partners emphasise that the project offers long-term opportunities for skills development, supply-chain growth and regional prosperity — cementing North Wales’s role in Britain’s nuclear future.
With this move, the UK joins a growing number of nations adopting SMR technology, reflecting a broader global shift towards modular nuclear power as a cost-effective, scalable and low-carbon alternative to traditional large reactors.
The Wylfa SMR will serve as a flagship for the government’s ambition to make the UK a major exporter of nuclear technology and clean energy infrastructure.
The announcement, made in November 2025, positions the project as a cornerstone of the UK’s “Clean Energy Superpower” strategy.
Under the plan, publicly owned Great British Energy - Nuclear (GBE-N) will oversee the development, deploying three 470-megawatt SMRs designed by Rolls-Royce SMR.
The site was chosen not only for its existing nuclear legacy but also for its demonstrated capacity to host advanced energy infrastructure.
While the initial build includes three reactors, the site could potentially expand to accommodate up to eight SMRs in total.
Construction work is expected to begin in 2026, with the reactors anticipated to supply low-carbon electricity to the grid from the mid-2030s.
When fully operational, the plant could provide power equivalent to that needed by around three million homes nationwide.
At peak construction, up to 3,000 jobs will be created in Anglesey and neighbouring communities — a major economic boost for the region.
Officials have described the Wylfa SMR project as a turning point for the UK’s nuclear sector.
By embracing modular, factory-built reactor technology, they argue, Britain can avoid the long delays and high costs that have hampered traditional large nuclear plants, while rapidly scaling up clean energy capacity to meet net-zero climate and energy-security goals.
Local stakeholders have welcomed the decision.
Institutions such as the region’s leading universities and manufacturing partners emphasise that the project offers long-term opportunities for skills development, supply-chain growth and regional prosperity — cementing North Wales’s role in Britain’s nuclear future.
With this move, the UK joins a growing number of nations adopting SMR technology, reflecting a broader global shift towards modular nuclear power as a cost-effective, scalable and low-carbon alternative to traditional large reactors.
The Wylfa SMR will serve as a flagship for the government’s ambition to make the UK a major exporter of nuclear technology and clean energy infrastructure.
