After speaking at the Chapter Zero Slovenia event "Small Modular Reactors, Industry Demand and Slovenia’s Energy Future" on 29 May, Alexis Honner, Business Development Manager at Rolls-Royce SMR, sat down with Bloomberg Adria’s Martin Tomažin to discuss the future role of small modular reactors in Europe.

During the conversation, Honner outlined Rolls-Royce SMR’s plans to have its first reactor operational by 2035 and explained how the company is applying decades of experience from both the nuclear and aerospace sectors to accelerate the deployment of SMRs. He highlighted the advantages of a modular, factory-built approach, which aims to reduce construction timelines and improve cost predictability compared to traditional large-scale nuclear projects.

The discussion also touched on the growing interest in SMRs across Europe, including in the United Kingdom, the Czech Republic, Sweden, and Slovenia. Honner noted that energy security, industrial competitiveness, electrification, data centres, artificial intelligence, and decarbonisation are increasingly driving governments and businesses to consider new sources of reliable low-carbon energy.

The potential of SMRs goes beyond electricity generation, as they could provide industrial heat and support hydrogen production, helping energy-intensive industries decarbonise their operations.

Watch the full interview below.