SMRMap SMR companies, designs, and deployment projects — sourced, limited coverage

Programmes and agreements / prg-gb-amr-rdd-htgr-demonstration

UK Advanced Modular Reactor RD&D programme HTGR demonstrator (Hartlepool proposed as host by EDF)

The UK government's Advanced Modular Reactor research, development and demonstration programme is working towards a high temperature gas reactor demonstrator. In Phase A (2022-2023) EDF proposed its Hartlepool Heat Hub as host site and found Hartlepool could be an appropriate HTGR site, while a NNL, JAEA and Jacobs team adapting Japan's HTGR design won a Phase B bid. Construction depends on a later government decision. A JAEA presentation of August 2026 still shows Hartlepool as a candidate site.

Type
Government programme
Countries concerned
United Kingdom
Participants and roles
  • Government: Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ)
  • Host or customer: EDF Energy Nuclear Generation Limited
  • Research: National Nuclear Laboratory (NNL)
  • Research: Japan Atomic Energy Agency
Designs named
—
Scale as stated
one high temperature gas reactor demonstrator (2030s)
Announced or first reported
Apr 2022
Recorded status
Status not established
Phase A studies (2022-2023) found Hartlepool could be an appropriate HTGR site. A build decision, vendor and site are not confirmed in the sources reviewed. Read the source dates: this does not confirm continuing activity today.
Confidence
medium
Not yet recorded
Expected but not recorded as a structured fact: Status. A missing structured fact does not mean zero or that it does not exist; a documented review limit is named beside the fact, and the description and sources may say more.
Record reviewed
2026-10-18 (record review date, not proof of current activity)

Sources