ABB could have a big role to play in Rolls-Royce's SMR deployment

ABB and Rolls-Royce SMR are exploring how ABB’s electrical and automation technology could be used across a planned fleet of small modular reactors. The memorandum of understanding covers potential collaboration on electrification, automation, instrumentation and communications systems.

Rolls-Royce is moving closer to delivery on a fleet of SMRs for the UK, after Great British Energy - Nuclear signed a contract with the company covering three planned 470MW units at Wylfa in Wales. 

That contract is structured in two stages. The first covers site-specific design, while a second would cover construction, supply, installation and commissioning, subject to a positive final investment decision and further government approval.

As part of its preparation work, Rolls-Royce SMR is starting to sign contracts, or at least MoUs with firms that could help it eventually deliver the sites. That includes the appointment of Yokogawa back in February to develop and deliver the main data processing and control system, including engineering, qualification, hardware, testing, installation and commissioning. 

But there’s a lot more to these sites than that. In fact, according to Rolls-Royce’s published designs, there’s a substantial electrical package to deliver – unsurprisingly. Its latest documentation covers 400kV grid connections, 11kV and 400V systems, standby generation, battery-backed supplies, earthing and lightning protection, alongside electrical protection requirements.

The design also brings the electrical installation into Rolls-Royce’s wider modularisation approach. Its cable-routing requirements explicitly include modularisation, while further development of electrical-system modularisation remains part of the design work.

Commissioning is being considered during the design stage too. Rolls-Royce says its process includes a continuous commissioning assessment, with eventual testing progressing from individual components and systems to performance and integrated tests.

That makes the standardisation of electrical systems, testing and commissioning an important part of the wider attempt to deliver a repeatable reactor fleet rather than treating each unit as an entirely separate project.

That’s where ABB comes in. The firm isn’t expected to just help deliver the first UK units, but the MoU has been framed around the wider planned fleet – which could help become a blueprint for Rolls-Royce SMRs around the world. Of course, there’s not yet a firm contract, so we don’t know exactly how far this MoU will develop, nor which electrical packages ABB could ultimately supply – but it could be a big win for ABB if it can get the deal across the line.