Teesworks makes final shortlist for new Rolls-Royce SMR factory

Teesworks has secured a spot on the final shortlist of locations to host Rolls-Royce’s first factory manufacturing parts for its fleet of clean energy power stations.

The heavy pressure vessels factory will produce and assemble some of the largest and most complex components of the Rolls-Royce for its small modular reactor (SMR) power station.

The facility representing a £100m to £200m investment will be around the size of three football pitches and create more than 200 long-term, highly skilled roles. It will have the capacity to generate enough low-carbon energy to power one million homes.

It would also support the region’s net zero ambitions, complementing projects already earmarked for the Teesworks site, including the under-construction SeAH Wind Monopile manufacturing plant, the bp-led Net Zero Teesside scheme and Circular Fuels’ renewable gas facility.

Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen said: “It’s great news that Teesworks is in the final running to become home to Rolls-Royce’s SMR factory. The site is fast becoming the place to do business in innovative net zero projects and this facility – helping to drive forward clean energy power plants – would be a fantastic fit.

“As major low-carbon projects in offshore wind, hydrogen and carbon capture and storage continue to take shape at Teesworks, we’re at the cutting edge of the sector. This means we’re inevitably seeing further interest and opportunity from investors keen to base themselves here and create more good-quality, well-paid jobs.

“Whatever the outcome, this goes to show big businesses and household names have their eyes on Teesside like never before.”

Rolls-Royce SMR chief executive, Tom Samson, said: “I want to thank everyone involved in the selection process and offer my congratulations to the three that have made the final shortlist.”

Teesworks is up against the International Advanced Manufacturing Park (IAMP) in Sunderland and South Tyneside, and Gateway, Deeside. A decision on the location will be made early next year after final evaluations and detailed assessments are made against the requirements and criteria for the factory.

A fleet of Rolls-Royce SMR power stations will increase the UK’s energy security and support net zero targets by generating low-carbon electricity from a sustainable source for generations to come. As the only SMR in Europe currently in the regulatory process, there is also an enormous opportunity to export this British technology around the globe.

By Mark Adair – Correspondent, Bdaily