GE Hitachi moves forward with UK SMR bid

GE Hitachi moves forward with UK SMR bid
by Erica Marchand
Paris, France (SPX) Apr 14, 2025

GE Vernova's nuclear division, GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy (GEH), has officially submitted its final proposal in Great British Nuclear's (GBN) competitive process for selecting small modular reactor (SMR) technologies.

The proposal centers on GEH's BWRX-300, a tenth-generation boiling water reactor design that incorporates decades of operational experience. The BWRX-300 is based on a standardized design, a streamlined delivery model, and extensive international regulatory engagement.

GEH is already advancing the BWRX-300 with Ontario Power Generation (OPG) in Canada, where it is set to become the first SMR deployed in a G7 country. At the Darlington site near Toronto, early site work is complete and the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission has issued a construction license for the initial unit. Final approval from Ontario's provincial government is pending.

"The Government has a unique opportunity to position the UK at the forefront of delivering the next generation of nuclear power and this submission marks a significant step forward in achieving this goal," said Andy Champ, GEH UK Country Leader. "The BWRX-300 offers a simplified, safe, and scalable design, backed by a proven track record of advancing SMR technology internationally. Together with our strategic investment partners, we are eager to bring this expertise to the UK."

GE Vernova's Power businesses CEO Mavi Zingoni emphasized the broader impact of the submission: "We are pleased to submit our final proposal and are excited by the opportunity this milestone brings to the UK energy market. Moving forward with two projects will help to establish an innovative new nuclear sector here in the UK, driving socio-economic growth up and down the country, creating jobs and unlocking greater opportunities to bolster the UK supply chain."

To support its UK strategy, GEH recently signed Memoranda of Understanding with several prominent British and international engineering firms, including Boccard, Cavendish Nuclear, Aecon, Amentum, AtkinsRealis, and Laing O'Rourke. These agreements expand on the groundwork laid during GEH's SMR supply chain conference in Sheffield, which attracted participation from more than 150 UK-based companies.

Further strengthening its UK position, GEH secured a GBP 33.6 million grant from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero's Future Nuclear Enabling Fund in January 2024. The company also entered the Generic Design Assessment (GDA) process for the BWRX-300 as part of that funding initiative.