The Anonymous Widower

Rolls-Royce Secures Deal For ŠKODA-Made Hardware To Drive The Next Generation Of Nuclear Power Stations

The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on techradar.

These three bullet-points act as sub-headings.

• Critical safety hardware for an upcoming range of Rolls-Royce’s turbine-equipped nuclear power stations is being provided by ŠKODA JS
• The Czech company will provide safety mechanisms for 470 MW reactors
• ŠKODA JS was bought by the Czech Republic’s state-backed electric power company ČEZ in 2022, removing it from its previous Russian owner, OMZ

These three paragraphs add more details.

Development of new nuclear plants based around Rolls-Royce turbines will feature critical safety hardware from ŠKODA JS, it has been announced. The Czechia-based company – once part of the old ŠKODA Works organization – will design and manufacture the Control Rod Drive Mechanisms, which are vital for regulating output and handling safety in emergencies.

The Rolls-Royce SMR (small modular reactor, but also referred to as UK SMR) is a reactor capable of outputting 470 MW of energy. That’s the equivalent of 150 onshore wind turbines, and offers a low-carbon, always on, and virtually invisible alternative to landscape-spoiling steel and fiberglass constructions.

Competition for nuclear hardware expertise is strong across Europe, and ŠKODA JS is considered a “tier-one” supplier. The deal is expected to be worth Kč 1 billion Czech Koruna (around £35 million) per Rolls-Royce power station.

In Clean, Affordable Energy For All, I said, I wouldn’t be surprised to see other countries join both projects, if they have something to offer. It looks like Skoda is a partner for Rolls-Royce.

Memorandum Of Understanding

The article also mentions a Memorandum of Understanding and says this.

Announcement of the ŠKODA JS built Control Rod Drive Mechanisms (CRDMs) follows an earlier Memorandum of Understanding with Rolls-Royce, in which the British company developed plans to develop sites in the Czech Republic, enabling deployment of up to 3GW of power.

That looks like the Czech Republic could be looking at six Rolls-Royce SMRs.

Conclusion

I must admit that I was a bit surprised that Rolls-Royce had gone to Skoda for such a critical component.

Consider.

• But in the 1960s, I put control systems on old machinery and you have to get it right.
• Skoda have probably worked with a lot of second-grade Russian hardware, so they make sure it works.
• Skoda are probably honoured to be working on such a prestige project.
• It might even be a tactic employed by Rolls-Ryce to get the best out of suppliers.

So long as it results in a safe and reliable reactor, who cares?

October 2, 2026 - Posted by AnonW | Energy | Czechnia, Process Control, Rolls-Royce, Rolls-Royce SMR, ŠKODA JS