en.Wedoany.com Reported - Czech power company ČEZ and Rolls-Royce SMR have launched work on a 470 MWe small modular reactor (SMR) project at the existing Temelín nuclear power plant site in South Bohemia.

A newly signed agreement will advance the next batch of proposed SMR projects at the Tušimice site in the Ústí nad Labem region and the Dětmarovice site in the Moravian-Silesian region.

Czech Minister of Industry and Trade Karel Havlíček said nuclear energy is a key pillar of the Czech Republic's stable and secure energy future, and small modular reactors will be an important component. The country plans to build its first such reactor at the Temelín nuclear power plant while preparing additional sites. This presents a globally significant technological opportunity for Czech industry, as without sufficient self-reliant energy supply, the nation's long-term energy security and economic stability cannot be guaranteed.

ČEZ board member Tomáš Pleskač noted that small modular reactors represent a global opportunity for Czech industry. With a long history and unique technology, traditional Czech nuclear enterprises can further deepen their involvement by participating in SMR projects. Initial results already show that Škoda JS, a nuclear company headquartered in Pilsen, has become one of two suppliers of key nuclear island components for Rolls-Royce SMR. He believes this is just the beginning, as the British company is only starting to build its supply chain, and Czech companies have shown strong interest in securing a position in the global market.

Rolls-Royce SMR CEO Chris Cholerton said that working on three sites provides a pathway to deploy at least six Rolls-Royce SMR units in the Czech Republic, laying the foundation for 3 GW of clean, secure electricity. This agreement builds on the strong momentum of the partnership with ČEZ, bringing the deployment of units in one of Europe's most important SMR markets one step closer.

The Czech Ministry of Industry and Trade stated that, in the long term, existing coal-fired power plant sites are particularly suitable for deploying SMRs. In addition to generating electricity, these reactors can also provide reliable heat supply to surrounding cities.

Rolls-Royce SMR is a 470 MWe design based on a small pressurized water reactor, capable of providing stable baseload power for at least 60 years. 90% of the SMR (with dimensions approximately 16 meters by 4 meters) will be built under factory conditions, with site activities mainly limited to the assembly of pre-manufactured, pre-tested modules, reducing project risk and potentially shortening construction timelines.

In October 2024, Rolls-Royce SMR was selected by ČEZ to deploy up to 3 GW of electricity in the Czech Republic, with ČEZ holding a 20% stake in Rolls-Royce SMR. The plan is to first deploy the initial SMR at the Temelín site (which currently has two GW-class VVER-1000 units), with subsequent projects to be developed at coal-fired power plant sites.

Currently, about one-third of the Czech Republic's electricity comes from four VVER-440 units at Dukovany (commissioned between 1985 and 1987) and two operating units at Temelín (commissioned in 2000 and 2002).

The Czech government also plans to build new GW-class nuclear reactors, and in July 2024 selected Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) as the preferred bidder for two new units at the existing Dukovany nuclear power plant (located about 200 km southeast of Prague). The engineering, procurement, and construction contract for the Dukovany units was signed in June 2025, involving two APR-1000 units with an estimated cost of CZK 407 billion (USD 18.6 billion), targeting construction start in 2029. In addition to the SMR project, two additional large units at the Temelín nuclear power plant are also under consideration.

In June 2025, Rolls-Royce SMR was selected as the preferred technology for the UK government's first SMR project, with a final investment decision expected in 2029. Rolls-Royce SMR has also been selected for a proposed SMR project in Sweden.