GE Vernova’s SMR reactor design passes significant regulatory milestone in the UK after Step 1 Generic Design Assessment approval
GE Vernova’s nuclear business, GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy (GEH), has progressed to the next step of the Generic Design Assessment (GDA) with its BWRX-300 Small Modular Reactor (SMR) technology.
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Step 1 of GEH’s GDA began in January 2024 and focused on agreeing the scope and schedule for Step 2, which has now been successfully completed. Today marks the start of Step 2.
The GDA process ensures that new reactor designs meet the highest standards for safety, security, and environmental protection.
GEH’s 10th generation SMR design – the BWRX-300 – leverages a unique combination of a new, patented safety breakthrough and proven components. The BWRX-300 builds on decades of real-world boiling water reactor operating experience and innovation, using a standard design, a proven delivery model and GEH’s experience with cross-border regulatory collaboration.
GEH and Ontario Power Generation (OPG) are developing the first BWRX-300 at OPG’s Darlington site near Toronto. Early site preparation work has been completed, with construction expected to start in 2025 and commercial operation to commence by the end of 2029. A total of four 300 MW units are planned for the Darlington site.
Andy Champ, GEH UK Country Leader, said: “Progressing to Step 2 of the GDA demonstrates our unwavering desire to deliver a fleet of nuclear reactors in the UK. Our design will be tried and tested through our partnership with OPG to deploy the first civil SMR in the G7. This means we have extensive experience across the full nuclear lifecycle, with a proven track record deploying reactor technology on time and on budget.”
Chris Southern, Senior Project Director, GEH, said: "This significant milestone underscores GEH’s commitment to advancing SMR technology safely in the UK. Our BWRX-300 technology builds on our already proven BWR design, offering not only a smaller but simpler modular reactor, without sacrificing safety responses or operational performance. We remain dedicated to demonstrating the feasibility and reliability of our SMR technology as we progress through Great British Nuclear’s SMR competition.”
Rafał Kasprów, CEO of ORLEN Synthos Green Energy (OSGE), said: “Congratulations to GEH on the successful and on-schedule completion of GDA Step 1 and the transition to the GDA Step 2 of the BWRX-300 in the UK. In the European market, pan-European SMR platforms are beginning to emerge, based on GEH's proven technology. This allows for leveraging invaluable licensing experience in the nuclear industry, utilizing existing supply chains, and simplifying access to financing.
“From our perspective, the simultaneous deployment of BWRX-300 technology in several European countries significantly reduces risk, is attractive to investors, and ensures optimal use of existing production infrastructure, including in the UK and Central and Eastern Europe (CEE).”
OSGE is co-financing part of the licensing of the BWRX-300 with GEH as part of the Future Nuclear Enabling Fund project.
Jon Fowler, Vice President for Nuclear Power at Amentum, said: “It is a great achievement to reach this stage in the GDA process in a relatively short space of time. Amentum was able to draw on our extensive experience with applications for new nuclear plants to provide design capabilities to help achieve this. Our collaboration with GEH on this application is accelerating the UK ambition to achieve greater energy security and meet its net-zero carbon targets.”
Building on a long and deep history in the UK, GE Vernova has a significant local footprint with four manufacturing facilities and more than 30 percent of the country’s electricity currently powered by our technology.
GEH is committed to developing its robust UK supply chain further for its BWRX-300, having recently signed a series of Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) with Aecon, AtkinsRéalis, Amentum and Laing O’Rourke. These agreements build on GEH’s previously announced collaboration with Sheffield Forgemasters to discuss how the Sheffield-based company’s forgings could help contribute to BWRX-300 deployment in the UK. GEH also held a SMR supply chain conference in Sheffield earlier this year, which was attended by over 150 UK businesses.
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