R-R's nuclear power plant ambitions

ROLLS-ROYCE is planning to use the expertise it has

developed in Derby to set up a new business developing nuclear

power stations.

The firm believes that it could be a lucrative future

revenue source.

It estimates that the worldwide market for nuclear energy

could be worth £50bn a year in 15 years' time.

Rolls-Royce has about 2,000 employees working in nuclear

power, the majority based in Derby.

It said the plans for the new civil nuclear business were

still in their infancy and that no decision had been taken

about where the unit would be based or whether new jobs would

be created.

Its marine division – known as Marine Power Operations – in

Raynesway, employs 1,400 people.

It specialises in developing nuclear reactor technology for

the Royal Navy's nuclear submarines programme.

Rolls-Royce chief executive Sir John Rose said: “Rolls-Royce

has been involved in the UK's nuclear industry for over 50

years.

“Our experience is directly applicable to all phases of

new-build programmes that are planned in the UK and globally,

and to the upgrade of existing plants.

“Our capability is unique in the UK and matched by only a

handful of companies worldwide.

“The expansion of the civil nuclear market represents an

exciting opportunity which builds on our extensive nuclear

capabilities.”

The new unit would support a number of the phases of a civil

nuclear programme, including providing advice to governments

and operators, technical engineering support and safety

assessments, manufacturing, procurement and support.

Rolls-Royce already has a nuclear presence in Europe and

America through its company, Data Systems and Solutions, which

has headquarters in America and UK offices in Sinfin Lane,

Derby, and Bristol.

DSS provides monitoring and safety systems to all of

France's 58 nuclear reactors. It also works with plants in the

Czech Republic and China.

But Rolls-Royce has stressed that the work that it does for

the Royal Navy's submarine programme in Derby will not be

affected.

Now would seem a good time for Rolls-Royce to make its

nuclear expertise available as Prime Minister Gordon Brown is

keen to increase the UK's nuclear power capacity as an

alternative to burning fossil fuels.

In January, ministers announced that they backed new plants

and published a review of possible sites where there have been

nuclear power plants before.

On Monday, the Government denied it had already drawn up a

list of sites for new nuclear power stations.

The Department for Business said the process was

ongoing.

In a statement, it says: “The Government has set out a clear

vision for nuclear new-build.

“Energy companies have been invited to bring forward

proposals for new nuclear power stations as part of the

solution to the UK's future low-carbon energy needs.”

The last nuclear power station to be built in the UK was

Sizewell B in Suffolk, which was erected between 1988 and 1995.

Rolls-Royce built some reactor parts for it.

Opponents of the plans say new reactors will be expensive,

dirty and dangerous.

Campaign group Greenpeace argues that research suggests that

even 10 new reactors would cut the UK's carbon emissions by

only about 4% by 2025.