en.Wedoany.com Reported - US-based Holtec International and French utility EDF have submitted a joint proposal to build up to four SMR-300 small modular reactors at the Cottam power station site in Nottinghamshire, UK, to support data centers and regional redevelopment. The project will leverage existing grid infrastructure and benefit from UK-US nuclear regulatory cooperation.

The two companies have also signed a term sheet to establish a joint venture to advance the project at the site of a decommissioned coal-fired power plant. The site has existing grid infrastructure and ceased power generation in 2019.

In September 2025, Holtec announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding with EDF Energy and real estate partner Tritax Management to jointly develop its SMR-300 small modular reactors at Cottam to power new data centers on the site. The partners stated that the project will also promote foreign direct investment in the UK, including investments by Framatome in nuclear fuel manufacturing and services, and by Arabelle Solutions in turbine manufacturing. The 1 GW data center project is planned to be operational by the late 2020s, with the small modular reactor portion entering service in the 2030s.

Rick Springman, President of Holtec International, said that the submission of this proposal marks an important milestone for the project and for the development of advanced nuclear energy in the UK. Holtec plans to significantly expand its operations in the UK by establishing a substantially enlarged operations center and is evaluating the feasibility of building a nuclear equipment manufacturing facility in the country.

Simone Rossi, CEO of EDF UK, expressed delight in collaborating with Holtec International to develop small modular reactors in the UK. The Cottam project supports the UK government's goal of expanding nuclear power capacity and will promote large-scale redevelopment in a region that has made significant contributions to the UK through its coal industry heritage.

Holtec's SMR-300 small modular reactor has completed Stage 2 of the UK's Generic Design Assessment process, confirming that no fundamental safety, security, safeguards, or environmental protection obstacles have been identified that would prevent its deployment in the UK.

As part of site-specific development work, regulators will still need to conduct a new round of detailed design assessments.

Holtec has been developing its small modular reactor units since 2011. The SMR-300 is a pressurized water reactor capable of generating approximately 300 MW of electricity or providing 1050 MW of thermal energy for process applications.

The UK project will use the SMR-300 design and is expected to be the second deployment of this model, following Holtec's plan to establish a joint venture with Hyundai Engineering & Construction to deploy two small reactors at the Palisades nuclear power plant site in Michigan, USA, named Pioneer 1 and Pioneer 2. The Pioneer reactors are scheduled to enter service in the early 2030s.

Holtec's construction permit application submitted to the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission is currently under review, with pre-construction site preparation work proceeding in parallel.

Holtec stated that both projects will benefit from the growing cooperation between the UK Office for Nuclear Regulation and the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission, aimed at harmonizing regulatory efforts to benefit the Pioneer and Cottam projects and help ensure a true second-of-a-kind deployment in the UK.

The UK currently has a government-backed plan to deploy its first small modular reactors at Wylfa in North Wales. The plan will include at least three Rolls-Royce SMR units, the technology selected following an official UK government competition. A final investment decision for the plan is expected in 2029.