Rolls-Royce wins deal to build Sweden’s first nuclear plant in 40 years

Rolls-Royce Selected by Sweden to Supply Small Nuclear Reactors

Sweden took a major step toward building its first nuclear power plant in more than four decades on Monday, with the selection of Rolls-Royce to supply three small modular reactors for a project on the country’s western coast.

A Three-Year Search Ends

Videberg Kraft, the nuclear project company owned by Vattenfall and Industrikraft, chose Rolls-Royce SMR after evaluating 75 different options over the course of three years, beating out GE Vernova Hitachi’s BWRX-300 in the final round. The three reactors, each designed to deliver 470 megawatts of electricity, will be sited on the Värö Peninsula near the existing Ringhals nuclear facility, adding roughly 1.5 GW of capacity to the grid. The project is targeting a first operating unit in the mid-2030s.ft

“Rolls-Royce SMR offers a robust network of subcontractors, the majority of which are located in our geographical vicinity,” said Desirée Comstedt, acting CEO of Videberg Kraft. Anna Borg, Vattenfall CEO and Videberg Kraft board member, added that the reactor — a pressurized water reactor of the same type already used at Ringhals — represented “well-proven technology” with “a commercially attractive contractual set-up”.world-nuclear-news

Sweden becomes the third European country to select Rolls-Royce SMR technology, joining the Czech Republic and the United Kingdom. The Swedish state is expected to become majority owner of Videberg Kraft, with a formal transfer of shares anticipated in the second half of 2027.ans

A Broader Nuclear Push

The selection comes amid a wave of nuclear ambitions across Sweden. Last week, nuclear services firm Studsvik submitted an application to the Swedish government for state support covering up to 1,400 MW of new nuclear capacity in the south of the country through its ReFirm programme, with Valdemarsvik and Nyköping identified as the most mature sites. Separately, advanced reactor developer Blykalla filed for government financing for a plant in Norrsundet featuring six lead-cooled SEALER reactors with a combined 330 MW capacity.nucnet

The government has proposed up to 440 billion Swedish crowns — roughly $47 billion — in loans, 40-year price guarantees, and assistance with nuclear waste management to support at least 5,000 MW of new nuclear power. Sweden’s parliament enacted the underlying state aid legislation last year, the first framework for new reactor construction in over four decades.reuters

Why It Matters

Sweden’s nuclear expansion is driven by surging electricity demand from data centers, industrial electrification, and climate targets calling for net-zero emissions by 2045. The government’s roadmap envisions the equivalent of up to 10 new large-scale reactors by that year. Rolls-Royce SMR CEO Chris Cholerton called the selection “a strong endorsement of our transformational approach to delivery of a standardised fleet of SMRs” and evidence of “growing market confidence in our technology”.reuters