McDermott Signs Agreement with ULC-Energy to Support Rolls-Royce SMR Development in the Netherlands

McDermott and ULC-Energy announced on July 29 that they have signed a cooperation agreement to jointly support the development of the Rolls-Royce Small Modular Reactor (Rolls-Royce SMR) project, with a primary focus on the Dutch market.

Under the agreement, the collaboration will center on the coupling of small modular reactors with energy-intensive industrial processes, exploring the application of nuclear energy in industrial energy systems. McDermott will leverage its engineering experience in energy transition and industrial decarbonization, covering areas such as low-carbon hydrogen and ammonia, sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), and carbon capture and utilization (CCU); ULC-Energy will provide capabilities in nuclear project development.

This cooperation also brings McDermott into ULC-Energy's expanding strategic partner network. Led by the Rolls-Royce SMR project, the network includes members such as Siemens Energy, BAM, Mammoet, Bureau Veritas, Urenco, Orano, and Fugro, with the goal of advancing energy solutions powered by small modular reactors in the Netherlands and Belgium. McDermott, with its operational footprint in Europe, particularly in the Netherlands and the United Kingdom, will provide engineering and execution support for related projects.

ULC-Energy is currently advancing a modern modular nuclear project based on mature light-water reactor technology and has selected Rolls-Royce SMR as its technology supplier. In 2023, ULC-Energy collaborated with McDermott on a study to assess the feasibility of coupling a Rolls-Royce SMR plant with solid oxide electrolyzer cells (SOEC) for industrial-scale hydrogen production. In that project, ULC-Energy served as the coordinator, while McDermott was responsible for the engineering design and cost estimation of plant auxiliary systems and heat integration systems.

Rob Sauer, Senior Vice President of McDermott's Low Carbon Solutions, stated that the new agreement builds on the existing cooperation between the two parties. McDermott has a business hub in the Netherlands and possesses the engineering capabilities to support the development of the Rolls-Royce SMR project and its integration with industrial energy systems.

Dirk Rabelink, CEO of ULC-Energy, stated that nuclear energy needs to be integrated into the overall energy system to achieve greater impact, and small modular reactors can provide electricity, heat, or hydrogen as needed. The previous collaboration between the two parties has validated this concept, and future efforts will continue to explore other application scenarios.

ULC-Energy, headquartered in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, with an office in Arnhem, is primarily engaged in nuclear project development and consulting and serves as the developer of Rolls-Royce SMR in the Netherlands. McDermott is a provider of engineering and construction solutions for the energy industry, operating in over 30 countries with more than 30,000 employees.