Sweden picks Rolls-Royce SMR for three nuclear reactors

Sweden has selected Rolls-Royce SMR to build its first new nuclear reactors in nearly 50 years, marking a significant shift in the nation's energy policy. State-owned utility Vattenfall announced the decision on Monday, June 15, 2026, choosing the British company's small modular reactor (SMR) technology over a competing bid from U.S.-based GE Vernova.

The contract, whose value was not disclosed, involves the construction of three SMR units for the Videberg Kraft venture. Each reactor will have a capacity of approximately 470 megawatts, providing a combined output of around 1,500 MW, enough electricity to power roughly one million homes. The project is planned for a site on Sweden's west coast, with some sources specifying the Värö Peninsula and others the existing Ringhals nuclear facility. The reactors are targeted to begin generating power by the middle of the next decade, in the early 2030s.

Vattenfall CEO Anna Borg stated that Rolls-Royce's offer was selected as the best overall in terms of supply chain, timings, and returns. She noted that being a European supplier was an advantage but not the sole reason for the choice. Borg said the project would now be turned into...