Dezeen Magazine

UK government backs mini-nuclear reactors COP26

Rolls-Royce gets funding to develop mini nuclear reactors at COP26

Daily COP26 briefing: today's COP26 briefing includes mini nuclear reactors, a talk by Nigerian architect Kunlé Adeyemi and the Architects' Journal blog.

Throughout COP26, we are publishing regular updates of what's happening at the climate conference and surrounding events. See all our COP26 coverage here.

Rolls-Royce to develop mini nuclear reactors 

The UK government has awarded a £210 million grant to British aerospace company Rolls-Royce to create mini nuclear reactors (pictured). The move comes amid increased interest in nuclear power as a less carbon-intensive alternative to generating electricity by burning coal and gas.

"The Rolls-Royce Small Modular Reactor (SMR) business has today been established, to bring forward and deliver at scale the next generation of low cost, low carbon nuclear power technology," said the company.

Earlier this year architecture studio Instance BV announced it was collaborating with power company GE Hitachi to design small nuclear power plants that would be built across North America, Europe and Asia.

Kunlé Adeyemi to speak on Building African Water Cities

Nigerian architect Kunlé Adeyemi, who is the founder of studio NLÉ and a Dezeen Awards judge, is set to give the keynote speech at the Close of Play online event organised by The Glasgow School of Art's Mackintosh School of Architecture tomorrow.

Broadcast online, Adeyemi's talk will be titled Building African Water Cities.

Architects' Journal launches COP26 blog

UK architecture magazine Architects' Journal has started a blog focused on the climate conference. Bloggers giving updates from the event in Glasgow include director of sustainability and physics at engineering studio Buro Happold, Maria Smith, RIBA president and AHMM founder, Simon Allford and chief executiveUK Green Building Council, Julie Hirigoyen.

Sheffield School of Architecture exhibition showcases "greenest projects"

An exhibition focused on the most sustainable projects created by Sheffield School of Architecture students has opened at the New Glasgow Society Gallery. The exhibition will be on show for the duration of COP26.

Arrival, Uber and Volvo to speak on the transition to zero-emission vehicles

A talk titled Driving innovation forward on zero-emission vehicles is taking place as part of climate change group RouteZero's series of events at the conference. Speaking on the panel will be the president of electric vehicle brand Arrival, Avinash Rugoobur, head of global sustainability at car brand Volvo, Anders Kärrberg, and EMEA general manager at ride-sharing company Uber, Anabel Díaz.

COP26 takes place at SEC Centre in Glasgow from 1 to 12 November 2021. See Dezeen Events Guide for all the latest information you need to know to attend the event, as well as a list of other architecture and design events taking place around the world.