As countries across the world look for ways to secure low-carbon, reliable energy while meeting increasingly urgent climate goals, nuclear power is returning to the centre of long-term infrastructure planning. This renewed momentum is not confined to any single market. From Europe and North America to Asia, governments are reassessing the role of nuclear power as a source of firm, low-carbon power capable of supporting renewables-led energy systems.
Large-scale programmes are progressing in parallel. In France, the planned EPR2 reactor fleet marks a new phase in the country’s long-term nuclear strategy. In the United States, both federal and state-level initiatives are accelerating deployment of small and advanced modular reactors. China continues to expand its nuclear capacity at pace, while several Western European nations are extending the life of existing assets and re-opening pathways for new nuclear investment.
Within this global context, the next generation of nuclear energy is increasingly shaped not by traditional, bespoke mega-projects, but by advanced modular reactors (AMRs) and small modular reactors (SMRs) - designed to be standardised, repeatable, and deployed more efficiently at scale.
For governments, regulators and developers worldwide, this shift represents a decisive opportunity: nuclear power that is lower-risk, more flexible, and better aligned with modern energy systems. And for manufacturers supporting the sector, it reinforces the need for a dependable, technically assured supply chain capable of meeting some of the most stringent engineering and safety requirements in the world.
While this momentum is global, the UK represents a particularly active and strategically important market within the wider nuclear landscape. With the British government announcing that there will be 400,000 extra jobs in clean energy by 2030, the UK’s focus on advanced modular nuclear as part of its long-term energy strategy has sharpened.
This article explores in more detail the pivotal role modular reactors will play in balancing energy systems, accelerating decarbonisation, and underpinning industrial competitiveness for decades to come.
Why Modular Reactors Matter
Momentum has been building globally, but the UK’s commitment to advanced modular nuclear has sharpened significantly in recent months. The UK–US civil nuclear partnership aims to accelerate approvals and delivery, while planned programmes such as the proposed 12 SMRs at Hartlepool, expected to support thousands of skilled jobs, illustrate the scale of the opportunity.
That momentum was reinforced again with the UK Government’s confirmation that Wylfa in North Wales will host the country’s first small modular reactor power station. As the most significant industrial investment in the region for a generation, the programme is expected to support up to 3,000 skilled jobs at peak construction, backed by over £2.5 billion of infrastructure investment. With an initial plan for three SMR units - and potential capacity for up to eight - Wylfa is set to become a flagship project in the UK’s emerging SMR fleet.
Together, these developments demonstrate a clear national pathway: from enabling policies, to early deployment, to long-term fleet-based rollout.
Modular reactors offer several strategic advantages:
- Safety by design: Simplified, standardised systems reduce complexity and enhance inherent safety.
- Shorter deployment timelines: Factory-built modules reduce on-site construction risks.
- Scalability: Reactors can be added incrementally based on grid demand.
- Low-carbon baseload power: Essential for stabilising systems increasingly reliant on intermittent renewables.
This reflects a growing consensus: modular nuclear technologies will play a material role in delivering stable, low-carbon power systems over the coming decades.
Precision, Traceability and Safety: What the Nuclear Supply Chain Demands
Nuclear projects - regardless of reactor size - rely on components that deliver absolute confidence in performance. Fasteners used in containment structures, reactor pressure boundaries, heat exchangers and safety-critical assemblies must withstand extreme pressures, high temperatures and demanding lifetime performance requirements.
This is where CTB Group brings decades of sector-specific expertise.
A Proven Partner for Safety-Critical Nuclear Fasteners
CTB Group has a long-standing history of supplying high-integrity fastening solutions to nuclear customers worldwide. Our work covers the fundamental prerequisites for nuclear participation, including:
- Precision-engineered fasteners designed for long-term structural stability and thermal performance.
- Full traceability and documentation from raw material to finished product.
- Quality and compliance frameworks certified to internationally recognised standards.
- Rigorous testing, inspection and verification processes embedded across manufacturing.
The scale of opportunity ahead also places renewed focus on the supply chain itself. As Chris Cholerton, Chief Executive of Rolls-Royce SMR, observes: “This is a tremendous opportunity not just for North Wales but for the whole country, as we establish an enduring supply chain that will enable our fleet deployment in the UK and a large export programme.”
These expectations align closely with CTB Group’s long-standing approach to engineering assurance, documentation and manufacturing discipline.
Fast, Assured Delivery for Large-Scale Programmes
Modular reactor programmes require not just technical excellence but also speed, scalability and reliability in execution.
CTB Group’s global operations allow us to support these requirements with:
- A distributed manufacturing footprint across Europe, the USA, China and India, improving security of supply and reducing logistics risk.
- Efficient certification pathways including DIBt certification achieved 70% faster than the industry average, demonstrating our ability to respond at pace to regulatory expectations.
- Robust ESG and CBAM-aligned supply chains, supporting customers navigating emerging carbon reporting and compliance requirements.
- End-to-end capability, from forging and machining to heat treatment, coating, testing, and global distribution.
For developers seeking consistency over multi-year delivery cycles, suppliers with proven capability and global resilience become critical.
Nuclear as Part of a Balanced, Low-Carbon Future
While energy systems continue to evolve, nuclear is increasingly recognised as a stable complement to renewables.
Wind and solar will continue to expand rapidly, but modular reactors provide dependable baseload power to support intermittent generation. They reduce reliance on fossil fuels, strengthen national energy security, and enable industrial regions to decarbonise without sacrificing productivity.
The system need is widely recognised. The UK’s National Infrastructure Commission has consistently emphasised that firm, low-carbon power - including nuclear - will be important for stabilising a renewables-led electricity system and reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
CTB Group’s broader ESG commitments - including transparent emissions reporting, Scope 3 mapping, renewable energy targets and CBAM compliance - align closely with the governance expectations shaping the next era of nuclear investment.
In short, as the nuclear landscape modernises, the supply chain must modernise with it. And we are ready.
A Trusted Fastening Partner for the Modular Nuclear Era
The direction of travel is unmistakable. As Tom Greatrex, Chief Executive of the Nuclear Industry Association, recently commented: “Bringing nuclear back to Wylfa is a historic moment for Wales and for the UK’s clean energy future. Wylfa’s revival offers a once-in-a-generation opportunity to deliver clean, reliable power for decades to come, create thousands of skilled jobs, attract major investment, and [...] bring lasting economic and social benefits to the communities that have long been at the heart of our energy story.”
Advanced modular reactors represent one of the most meaningful opportunities for decarbonised, secure power this century. Delivering them safely will rely on engineering partners who bring reliability, experience and a proven approach to safety-critical manufacturing.
Across CTB Group, our commitment is clear: to support the next generation of nuclear infrastructure with the same precision, integrity and dependability that have defined our work for more than a century.
If you would like to discuss upcoming nuclear programmes or explore how our fastening solutions can support your reactor design or project timeline, our team is here to help.
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