Europe’s Nuclear Renaissance Starts Now: Mike Crawforth, Rolls-Royce SMR

Nuclear power is back on the agenda, but can Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) finally deliver a faster, more scalable and more affordable approach to new nuclear generation? In this episode of EIC Clearly, Stuart Broadley is joined by Mike Crawforth, Strategy and Business Development Manager at Rolls-Royce SMR, to explore how one of the UK’s most talked-about energy technologies is moving from concept to commercial reality.

Mike discusses Rolls-Royce SMR’s rapid growth from a 50-person start-up to a business of more than 2,000 employees, the technology behind its 470MW reactors, and the significance of securing contracts for seven SMR units across the UK, the Czech Republic and Sweden. The conversation examines why governments are turning to SMRs, the importance of standardisation and supply chain development, and how the industry can avoid the delays and cost overruns that have historically challenged large nuclear projects.

Stuart and Mike also explore the growing demand for reliable low-carbon power, the role of nuclear alongside renewables, the impact of AI and data centres on future electricity demand, and why delivering the first wave of SMR projects successfully could reshape the future of global nuclear energy. At the heart of the discussion is a simple question: can SMRs become the breakthrough technology that finally brings nuclear power into the era of repeatable, factory-built energy infrastructure?