Rolls-Royce Group has reached an agreement with Qatar Investment Authority (QIA), the sovereign wealth fund of the State of Qatar, to invest GBP 85 million (Ksh12.7 billion) in Rolls-Royce SMR Limited (Rolls-Royce SMR).
Rolls-Royce SMR is building a new technology solution to deliver affordable, low carbon, nuclear power. A single power station will occupy around one-tenth of the size of a conventional nuclear generation site and power approximately one million homes.
QIA will join Rolls-Royce Group, BNF Resources UK Ltd and Exelon Generation Ltd as shareholders in Rolls-Royce SMR, taking a 10 percent share of the equity.
“QIA is investing in the energy transition and funding the technologies that enable low carbon electricity generation. We will continue to seek out investments that align with our mandate to deliver long-term value for future generations through responsible sustainable investments,” said Mr Mansoor bin Ebrahim Al-Mahmoud, Chief Executive Officer of QIA.
A Rolls-Royce SMR power station will have the capacity to generate 470mw of low carbon energy, equivalent to more than 150 onshore wind turbines. It will provide consistent baseload generation for at least 60 years, helping to support the rollout of renewable generation, helping to overcome intermittency.
Warren East, CEO, Rolls-Royce Group, said: “I am tremendously pleased to announce that we have further strengthened our relationship with Qatar, through QIA’s investment in the Rolls-Royce SMR business. We have successfully raised the capital we need to establish Rolls-Royce SMR and it is encouraging to confirm that the business is now set up to succeed.”
The Rolls-Royce SMR business is now fully funded, having secured £490 million through commercial equity and UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) grant funding. The development of SMRs is a core part of the UK Government’s 10-point plan for a green industrial revolution.
“This investment is a clear vote of confidence in the UK’s global leadership in nuclear innovation and follows the £210 million of government investment in the development in Small Modular Reactors,” said Business and Energy Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng.
“It represents a huge step forward in our plan to deploy more home-grown, affordable clean energy – ensuring greater energy independence for the UK, highly skilled jobs and bringing cheaper, cleaner electricity to people’s homes.”
QIA was founded in 2005 to invest and manage the state reserve funds. QIA is among the largest and most active sovereign wealth funds globally. QIA invests across a wide range of asset classes and regions.
Minister for Investment, Lord Grimstone, said: “Although the COP26 Summit ended last month, the work to reach Net Zero and build back greener from the pandėmic goes on.
“Investment will play an important role in this. By investing millions into innovative green tech, like Small Modular Reactors, not only are we working hard to end our contribution to climate change, but we are securing thousands of highly-skilled jobs.”
Rolls-Royce has been a nuclear reactor plant designer since the start of the UK nuclėar submarinė programme in the 1950s.
Rolls-Royce SMR will draw upon standard nuclear energy technology that has been used in 400 reactors around the world.
When fully operational the Rolls-Royce SMR business is forecast to create 40,000 regional UK jobs by 2050 and generate £52bn in economic benefit.
Rolls-Royce Group will ultimately own approximately 70 percent of Rolls-Royce’s SMR business.
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