An updated design for mini nuclear power stations could match offshore wind on cost of electricity at around £50/MWh ($71/MWh), claimed a consortium led by Rolls-Royce aiming to be among the first to commercialise so-called small modular reactors (SMRs).

The power price estimate came as the group unveiled its latest SMR design, which it said will deliver 470MW from each unit – enough to power a million homes or significant hydrogen production – a 30MW increase on an initial blueprint released last year, without adding extra cost.