Rendering of a BWRX-300 power plant

US-based GE Vernova’s nuclear business, GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy (GEH), has signed memorandums of understanding (MOUs) with UK nuclear engineering firms, Boccard and Cavendish Nuclear.

GEH said the MOUs signal its intent to work more closely with suppliers in the UK, leveraging their expertise in the construction and delivery of NPPs in order to advance the development and operation of GEH’s BWRX-300 small modular reactor (SMR) in the context to Great British Nuclear’s (GBN) ongoing SMR selection competition. This follows GEH’s previously announced collaborations with Aecon, AtkinsRéalis, Jacobs and Laing O’Rourke.

According to Andy Champ, GE Hitachi UK Country Lead, the MOUs “strengthen our commitment to working with the UK nuclear supply chain to deliver our BWRX-300 SMR technology in the UK”. He added: “By combining their expertise with our extensive experience working in partnership with Ontario Power Generation (OPG) on the Darlington project in Canada, we’re well positioned to reliably deliver this technology for the best value for money. We look forward to continuing our work with both the supply chain and GBN to make nuclear energy a key enabler of Britain’s clean energy future.”

GEH and OPG are developing the first BWRX-300 at OPG’s Darlington site near Toronto which is anticipated to be the first commercial SMR in the G7. Early site preparation work has been completed, with construction of the first unit expected to start later this year, pending regulatory approval, and commercial operation expected to commence by the end of 2029. A total of four 300 MW units are planned for the Darlington site.

In December GEH’s proposals for its BWRX-300 nuclear reactor progressed to the next step of the UK Generic Design Assessment (GDA). UK regulators said GE-Hitachi had applied for a two-step GDA which is expected to complete in December 2025. In January 2024, GEH was awarded a £33.6m ($42.6m) grant by the UK Future Nuclear Enabling Fund (FNEF) from the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero (DESNZ).

The BWRX-300 is a 300 MWe water-cooled, natural circulation SMR with passive safety systems that leverages the design and licensing basis of GEH’s ESBWR which has US Nuclear Regulatory Commission certification. As a result of design simplification, GEH claims the BWRX-300 will require significantly less capital cost per MW compared with other SMR designs. GEH says the BWRX-300 is being designed to reduce construction and operating costs below other nuclear power generation technologies. It will leverage a combination of existing fuel, plant simplifications, proven components as well as a design based on an already licensed reactor.

Douglas McQueen, Managing Director, Boccard UK, said the company’s fully digitalised nuclear manufacturing facility in North Wales “will bring exceptional levels of quality and value to the Nuclear New Build programme”. Digital Manufacturing controls delivered through BocTrack software would deliver a faster route to commercial market, he added.”

Cavendish Nuclear Managing Director Mick Gornall said: “Cavendish Nuclear is delighted to continue to deepen our relationship with GEH; building on our current manufacturing studies to underpin credible UK supply chain options for the Reactor Pressure Vessel and other key components.”

The MoU with Cavendish Nuclear, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Babcock International, will build on work being delivered under the UK FNEF while also building on the existing relationship GEH has with Cavendish Nuclear in support of the regulatory approval of the BWRX-300 through the Generic Design Assessment (GDA) process.

GE Vernova noted that it has a significant local footprint with four manufacturing facilities and more than 30% UK electricity currently powered by its technology. “GEH is committed to developing a robust UK supply chain for its BWRX-300 deployment having held a SMR supply chain conference in Sheffield in April 2024, which was attended by over 150 UK businesses.”