Škoda JS secures global supply deal for Rolls-Royce SMR hardware

Škoda JS, a Czech company owned by the state-backed utility ČEZ, has secured an agreement to become the exclusive global supplier of Control Rod Drive Mechanisms (CRDMs) for Rolls-Royce SMR reactors.

These specialized linear motors, measuring nearly eight meters in length and weighing approximately 450 kilograms, are critical for regulating reactor power output and ensuring rapid emergency shutdowns. Each Rolls-Royce SMR unit is designed to produce 470 MW of energy. The deal is estimated to be worth approximately 1 billion Czech Koruna (around £35 million) per power station.

The partnership follows ČEZ’s acquisition of a 20% minority stake in Rolls-Royce SMR. The companies are planning the deployment of small modular reactors in the Czech Republic, including a potential unit near the Temelín nuclear power station, with operations targeted for the second half of the 2030s. Škoda JS will first develop a specific prototype to facilitate worldwide supply for the Rolls-Royce SMR project.