The Anonymous Widower

Centrica And X-energy Agree To Deploy UK’s First Advanced Modular Reactors

The title of this post, is the same as that of this press release from Centrica.

This is the sub-heading.

Centrica and X-Energy, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of X-Energy Reactor Company, LLC, today announced their entry into a Joint Development Agreement (JDA) to deploy X-energy’s Xe-100 Advanced Modular Reactors (“AMR”) in the United Kingdom.

These three paragraphs add more details.

The companies have identified EDF and Centrica’s Hartlepool site as the preferred first site for a planned U.K. fleet of up to 6 gigawatts.

The agreement represents the first stage in a new trans-Atlantic alliance which could ultimately mobilise at least £40 billion in economic value to bring clean, safe and affordable power to thousands of homes and industries across the country and substantive work for the domestic and global supply chain.

A 12-unit Xe-100 deployment at Hartlepool could add up to 960 megawatts (“MW”) of new capacity, enough clean power for 1.5 million homes and over £12 billion in lifetime economic value. It would be developed at a site adjacent to Hartlepool’s existing nuclear power station which is currently scheduled to cease generating electricity in 2028. Following its decommissioning, new reactors would accelerate opportunities for the site and its skilled workforce. The site is already designated for new nuclear under the Government’s National Policy Statement and a new plant would also play a critical role in generating high-temperature heat that could support Teesside’s heavy industries.

This is no toe-in-the-water project, but a bold deployment of a fleet of small modular reactors to provide the power for the North-East of England for the foreseeable future.

These are my thoughts.

The Reactor Design

The Wikipedia entry for X-energy has a section called Reactor Design, where this is said.

The Xe-100 is a proposed pebble bed high-temperature gas-cooled nuclear reactor design that is planned to be smaller, simpler and safer when compared to conventional nuclear designs. Pebble bed high temperature gas-cooled reactors were first proposed in 1944. Each reactor is planned to generate 200 MWt and approximately 76 MWe. The fuel for the Xe-100 is a spherical fuel element, or pebble, that utilizes the tristructural isotropic (TRISO) particle nuclear fuel design, with high-assay LEU (HALEU) uranium fuel enriched to 20%, to allow for longer periods between refueling. X-energy claims that TRISO fuel will make nuclear meltdowns virtually impossible.

Note.

1. It is not a conventional design.
2. Each reactor is only about 76 MW.
3. This fits with “12-unit Xe-100 deployment at Hartlepool could add up to 960 megawatts (“MW”) of new capacity” in the Centrica press release.
4. The 960 MW proposed for Hartlepool is roughly twice the size of the Rolls-Rpoyce SMR, which is 470 MW .
5. Safety seems to be at the forefront of the design.
6. I would assume, that the modular nature of the design, makes expansion easier.

I have no reason to believe that it is not a well-designed reactor.

Will Hartlepool Be The First Site?

No!

This page on the X-energy web site, describes their site in Texas, which appears will be a 320 MW power station providing power for Dow’s large site.

There appear to be similarities between the Texas and Hartlepool sites.

• Both are supporting industry clustered close to the power station.
• Both power stations appear to be supplying heat as well as electricity, which is common practice on large industrial sites.
• Both use a fleet of small modular reactors.

But Hartlepool will use twelve reactors, as opposed to the four in Texas.

How Will The New Power Station Compare With The Current Hartlepool Nuclear Power Station?

Consider.

• The current Hartlepool nuclear power station has two units with a total capacity of 1,185 MW.
• The proposed Hartlepool nuclear power station will have twelve units with a total capacity of 960 MW.
• My instinct as a Control Engineer gives me the feeling, that more units means higher reliability.
• I suspect that offshore wind will make up the difference between the power output of the current and proposed power stations.

As the current Hartlepool nuclear power station is effectively being replaced with a slightly smaller station new station, if they get the project management right, it could be a painless exercise.

Will This Be The First Of Several Projects?

The press release has this paragraph.

Centrica will provide initial project capital for development with the goal of initiating full-scale activities in 2026. Subject to regulatory approval, the first electricity generation would be expected in the mid-2030s. Centrica and X-energy are already in discussions with additional potential equity partners, as well as leading global engineering and construction companies, with the goal of establishing a UK-based development company to develop this first and subsequent projects.

This approach is very similar to the approach being taken by Rolls-Royce for their small modular reactors.

Will Centrica Use An X-energy Fleet Of Advanced Modular Reactors At The Grain LNG Terminal?

This press release from Centrica is entitled Investment In Grain LNG Terminal.

This is one of the key highlights of the press release.

Opportunities for efficiencies to create additional near-term value, and future development options including a combined heat and power plant, bunkering, hydrogen and ammonia.

Note.

1. Bunkering would be provided for ships powered by LNG, hydrogen or ammonia.
2. Heat would be needed from the combined heat and power plant to gasify the LNG.
3. Power would be needed from the combined heat and power plant to generate the hydrogen and ammonia and compress and/or liquify gases.

Currently, the heat and power is provided by the 1,275 MW Grain CHP gas-fired power station, but a new nuclear power station would help to decarbonise the terminal.

Replacement Of Heysham 1 Nuclear Power Station

Heysham 1 nuclear power station is part-owned by Centrica and EdF, as is Hartlepool nuclear power station.

Heysham 1 nuclear power station is a 3,000 MW nuclear power station, which is due to be decommissioned in 2028.

I don’t see why this power station can’t be replaced in the same manner as Hartlepool nuclear power station.

Replacement Of Heysham 2 Nuclear Power Station

Heysham 2 nuclear power station is part-owned by Centrica and EdF, as is Hartlepool nuclear power station.

Heysham 2 nuclear power station is a 3,100 MW nuclear power station, which is due to be decommissioned in 2030.

I don’t see why this power station can’t be replaced in the same manner as Hartlepool nuclear power station.

Replacement Of Torness Nuclear Power Station

Torness nuclear power station is part-owned by Centrica and EdF, as is Hartlepool nuclear power station.

Torness nuclear power station is a 1,290 MW nuclear power station, which is due to be decommissioned in 2030.

I don’t see why this power station can’t be replaced in the same manner as Hartlepool nuclear power station.

But the Scottish Nationalist Party may have other ideas?

What Would Be The Size Of Centrica’s And X-energy’s Fleet Of Advanced Modular Reactors?

Suppose.

• Hartlepool, Grain CHP and Torness power stations were to be replaced by identical 960 MW ADRs.
• Heysham 1 and Heysham 2 power stations were to be replaced by identical 1,500 MW ADRs.

This would give a total fleet size of 5,880 MW.

A paragraph in Centrica’s press release says this.

The companies have identified EDF and Centrica’s Hartlepool site as the preferred first site for a planned U.K. fleet of up to 6 gigawatts.

This fleet is only 120 MW short.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

September 15, 2025 - Posted by AnonW | Computing, Design, Energy, Hydrogen | Ammonia, Ammonia-Powered Ships, Atlantic Partnership For Advanced Nuclear Energy, Centrica, Combined Heat And Power, Decarbonisation, EDF, Grain CHP Power Station, Grain LNG Terminal, Hartlepool, Hartlepool Nuclear Power Station, Heysham Nuclear Power Station, Hydrogen Production, Hydrogen-Powered Ships, Hyundai, Isle Of Grain, Liquified Natural Gas, Nuclear Power, Rolls-Royce, Rolls-Royce SMR, Small Modular Nuclear Reactor, SNP, Torness Nuclear Power Station, X-energy, Xe-100 Advanced Modular Reactor(AMR)