Rolls-Royce has been selected as the preferred bidder for a contract to supply an integrated nuclear emergency diesel system for the Hinkley Point C nuclear power station.

The system will comprise an MTU diesel generator made by Rolls-Royce Power Systems and Rolls-Royce patented instrumentation and control technology.

The latest announcement takes the total preferred-bidder contracts EDF Energy has awarded to Rolls-Royce for Hinkley Point C to more than £160m. This includes a £75m contract awarded to a Rolls-Royce/Nuvia Partnership.

Harry Holt, Rolls-Royce president – nuclear, said: “We are delighted to be awarded preferred bidder status to supply the Ultimate Diesel Generators for Hinkley Point C. This is in addition to the preferred bidder status that we have already been awarded for contracts to design and manufacture a number of heat exchangers, and coolant treatment equipment for the reactor systems.

“We continue to work very closely with EDF Energy, a highly-valued customer of ours. We hope very much to be able to finalise these important contracts as soon as we are able to do so, and play our part in the delivery of the UK’s first nuclear reactors in more than 20 years.”

Ken Owen, Hinkley Point C commercial director, added: “This contract signals that UK manufacturing can be competitive from both a technology and cost point of view for nuclear new build activities.

“This is an important step and demonstrates the time and investment Rolls-Royce has made in getting ready for nuclear new build in the UK. The whole of the UK supply chain has increasingly important opportunities in both construction of the power station, and the manufacturing of its parts.”