UK Energy Utility Signs X-energy Deal for SMR Nuclear Project

A small modular reactor designer which is working with a U.S. industrial firm on supplying future nuclear power for manufacturing facilities is now developing an SMR project with another partner in the United Kingdom.

X-energy has entered into a joint development agreement with British energy firm Centrica on deploying the nuclear developer’s Xe-100 advanced modular reactor. The SMR installation would be at Centrica’s Hartlepool site.

If and when constructed and commissioned, X-energy’s technology could generate close to 6 GW of carbon-free power for 14 million homes.

“This cross-Atlantic partnership demonstrates the transformative potential for the British people of US and UK businesses joining forces, with X-Energy and Centrica’s planned first project alone having the potential to create up to 2,500 good, skilled jobs, add £12 billion in economic value and generate enough energy to power 1.5 million homes,” U.K. Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero Ed Miliband said in a statement.

“By working with the U.S., we will reap the benefits of this golden age of nuclear, powering British homes with clean, homegrown energy, delivering well-paid skilled jobs and getting energy bills down for good,” Secretary Miliband added.

X-energy is also working with U.S. chemical giant Dow on potentially delivering its Xe-100 reactor to power the latter’s petrochemical and manufacturing site in south Texas. That project is still under construction review by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

No SMR nuclear projects have been built or operated in the U.S. yet, but the Trump Administration, and the Biden Administration before it, expressed support for installing more nuclear power generation to meet future electricity demand from data centers, AI and industrial electrification.

The Trump-led U.S. Department of Energy has also created a pilot program awarding 10 companies in a race to bring a test SMR to criticality by next July 4.

European energy giant EDF is also connected into the British project. A 12-unit Xe-100 deployment at Hartlepool is anticipated to add up to 960 MW of new capacity, enough clean power for 1.5 million homes and over $15 billion in lifetime economic value.

It will be developed at a site nearby Hartlepool’s existing nuclear power station, which is scheduled to stop generating electricity in 2028.

Centrica will provide initial project capital for development and initiate full-scale activities in 2026. Electricity generation is expected in the mid-2030s depending on regulatory approval.

“Centrica is proud to be at the forefront of Britain’s clean energy transition - investing in infrastructure and jobs that meet today’s energy needs while enabling tomorrow’s ambitions,” Centrica CEO Chris O’Shea said. “Our partnership with X-energy marks a bold step forward in delivering advanced nuclear technology that is not only scalable and secure, but also vital to clean industry and powering homes. The Xe-100 fleet will help build a resilient energy system that supports national security, affordability, and sustainability. From Sizewell C to Hartlepool, we are backing Britain’s energy future - and building it.”

Centrica and X-energy are in discussions with additional potential equity partners, global engineering and construction companies, to establish a UK-based development company and develop subsequent projects.

Other designers working on SMR nuclear plans in the U.S. include companies such as GE Vernova Hitachi, NuScale Power, Aalo Atomic, TerraPower, Oklo and Natura Resources, among others. All of those planned SMR projects will take multiple years to develop, if approved, and may not generate electricity until the 2030s.