Westinghouse, Nordion, and PSEG Nuclear Partner for U.S. Cobalt-60 Production

Siemens Energy has announced it will produce vital components for Rolls-Royce Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) at its CA Parsons Works site in Newcastle, United Kingdom. This agreement designates Siemens Energy as the sole supplier of steam turbines, generators, and other auxiliary systems for Rolls-Royce SMR's planned nuclear power plants. The components will support the Gwyndod project in the United Kingdom and the growing SMR export market.

This marks the first time these specific components for a small modular reactor will be manufactured in Europe. The initiative is expected to support over 550 jobs and create new opportunities in Newcastle, contributing to the development of a UK-led nuclear supply chain. Siemens Energy's solutions for nuclear power plants encompass steam turbines and generators with outputs ranging from 20 MW to 1,900 MW, alongside operational control technology and control systems.

Rolls-Royce SMR selected Siemens Energy as its global turbine systems partner in February 2025. The Rolls-Royce SMR design is a 470 MWe pressurized water reactor, intended to provide consistent baseload generation for at least 60 years. Ninety percent of the SMR, which measures approximately 16 meters by 4 meters, will be constructed in factory conditions. This approach aims to reduce project risk and shorten build schedules by limiting on-site activity primarily to the assembly of pre-fabricated, pre-tested modules.

In October 2024, Rolls-Royce SMR was chosen by ČEZ for the deployment of up to 3 GW of electricity in the Czech Republic, with ČEZ acquiring a 20% stake in Rolls-Royce SMR. An early works agreement has been signed to advance licensing, permitting, and site-specific design for deployment, with the first SMR planned for the Temelín site. Additionally, projects are being developed for coal-fired power plant sites, including Tušimice.

In June 2025, Rolls-Royce SMR was selected as the preferred technology by the UK government for the country's first SMR project. A final investment decision is anticipated in 2029. In November, the UK government announced Wylfa on the island of Anglesey, North Wales, as the site to host the initial three Rolls-Royce SMR units. This site, where a Magnox plant is currently being decommissioned, has the potential to host up to eight SMRs. Rolls-Royce SMR signed a contract with Great British Energy – Nuclear (GBE-N) in April to commence site-specific design and delivery activities for the UK's first SMRs at Wylfa. The plant at the Wylfa site will be named Gwyndod Power Station, a name chosen by a panel of young people from Anglesey following a local naming contest.

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has proposed a new rule, titled “In Situ Recovery Monitoring and Decommissioning Timeliness,” which was published online on September 1. This rule addresses two distinct aspects of the agency's oversight responsibilities.

The first part of the proposed rule focuses on establishing risk-informed criteria for safeguarding drinking water. These criteria are designed to protect against both radiological and nonradiological contamination in areas surrounding uranium in situ recovery (ISR) sites. This initiative aims to enhance environmental protection measures associated with uranium extraction operations.

The second component of the rule seeks to streamline the existing process for extending decommissioning timelines. This proposed change would apply to all licensees, potentially simplifying the administrative procedures involved in managing the end-of-life phases of nuclear facilities. The NRC's proposal aims to create a more efficient and adaptable framework for decommissioning activities across the industry.