Skanska Appointed to Deliver Key Seismic Safety Component for Rolls-Royce SMR

Skanska has been appointed by Rolls-Royce SMR to design and deliver an aseismic bearing pedestal demonstrator, a critical safety component for the UK’s emerging small modular reactor (SMR) programme.

The aseismic bearing pedestal is designed to isolate nuclear buildings and infrastructure from ground movement during seismic events, significantly improving structural resilience and operational safety. The demonstrator will be manufactured at Skanska’s Bentley Works fabrication facility in Doncaster, where a full prototype will also be constructed and tested.

The prototype will support the standardisation of the Rolls-Royce SMR design across a wide range of geotechnical and seismic conditions, helping to underpin the company’s modular, repeatable “fleet-based” approach to nuclear construction.

Adam McDonald, executive vice-president at Skanska UK, said the project highlights the company’s specialist engineering and manufacturing capabilities.

“We’ll be bringing our civil engineering, design and fabrication expertise to build and test a first-of-its-kind precast bearing pedestal – a critical component for Rolls-Royce SMR in delivering new nuclear power generation,” he said.“Over the coming months, we’ll develop the prototype and run a series of technical trials at our Doncaster facility. We are proud to play a role in developing the next generation of nuclear energy infrastructure.”

The appointment follows Rolls-Royce SMR’s selection last June as the UK government’s preferred bidder to deliver the country’s first small modular reactors. That decision concluded a two-year competitive process to identify suitable nuclear technologies and delivery partners for deployment in the UK.

Ruth Todd, operations and supply chain director at Rolls-Royce SMR, said the collaboration with Skanska represents a major step forward in validating the company’s seismic protection technology.

“Working with Skanska is a significant milestone in proving the capability of our aseismic bearing technology and demonstrating our modular approach to construction,” she said.“Partnering with a trusted delivery organisation helps de-risk our fleet-based strategy and creates further opportunities for British and Czech suppliers to contribute to the Rolls-Royce SMR mission.”

The demonstrator project forms part of wider efforts to mature the SMR design ahead of deployment, with a focus on safety, repeatability and supply chain readiness as the UK moves to expand its low-carbon nuclear capacity.