Assystem extends nuclear partnership with Rolls-Royce

Blackburn-based engineering firm Assystem is to extend its partnership with Rolls-Royce and will lead on the development of products for its nuclear power division.

Assystem will lead the small modular reactor development programme as it enters phase 2, continuing to design key areas of power plant infrastructure including the Turbine Island, Cooling Water Island and Balance of Plant systems.

The company first entered the SMR consortium to bring its global expertise in the design of turbine, cooling and auxiliary systems for new nuclear power plants. Its team are experts in model-based systems engineering, generative design and digital solutions.

As a result of the new work with Rolls-Royce, Assystem is expecting to double the size of its SMR team in the next six months, bringing additional skilled jobs in the North West of England, where it is also successfully delivering other nuclear energy projects, including safe decommissioning of the Sellafield nuclear site in Cumbria.

Simon Barber, UK managing director of Assystem said: "We are proud to be supporting the development of this pioneering technology which will play a crucial role in the global decarbonisation journey. We are bringing our industry-leading ‘Engineering Powered by Digital’ approach to the design of key plant systems, ensuring the highest standards of project management and cutting-edge technological solutions are utilised.

"Having been involved in this project for five years now, I am personally delighted to see it enter the next funding and regulatory assessment phase. This is an important development in the UK’s nuclear energy capability, which will boost skilled jobs and provide vital long-term energy security."