GE-Hitachi SMR advances to next step of UK regulatory assessment process

The BWRX-300, a 300MW SMR that represents GE-Hitachi’s 10th generation of nuclear technology, is undergoing the UK’s Generic Design Assessment (GDA). This process allows regulators to evaluate the reactor’s safety, security, environmental impact and safeguards at an early stage. Such assessments are crucial for instilling public confidence that nuclear facilities can be safely constructed, operated and decommissioned in both England and Wales.

Natural Resources Wales’ involvement highlights the potential for the reactor’s application within Wales, should the design be proposed for construction there.

Regulators are satisfied that GE-Hitachi has completed Step 1, initiation, and is now ready to advance into Step 2 of the GDA, which focuses on the fundamental adequacy of the reactor design.

The BWRX-300 boasts a combination of innovative safety features and established operational components, building on decades of experience with boiling water reactors.

The first BWRX-300 unit is currently being developed in collaboration with Ontario Power Generation (OPG) at its Darlington site near Toronto, Canada. Preliminary site preparations have been completed, with construction anticipated to begin in 2025 and commercial operations projected by the end of 2029. A total of four 300MW units are planned at this location.

GE-Hitachi has established an informative GDA website which allows the public to comment and raise questions regarding the reactor design. This public engagement is intended to create transparency, as regulators will review all submitted inquiries and responses during the assessment process.

Financial backing for the GDA is partially provided by the UK government’s Future Nuclear Enabling Fund programme.

The BWRX-300’s progress through the two-step GDA process is projected to be completed by December 2025. At the conclusion of this phase, regulators will produce statements to indicate their confidence levels regarding the reactor’s potential construction and operational capabilities in the UK. However, it’s important to note that no formal acceptance confirmations will be issued at this stage.

If the BWRX-300 moves towards construction in England or Wales, further detailed design assessments will be necessary before significant construction can commence and environmental permits obtained.

As the independent environmental regulator, the Environment Agency will ensure that any nuclear operations adhere to high environmental protection standards throughout their lifecycle.

GE-Hitachi’s BWRX-300 is one of four SMR designs that has advanced to the procurement stage of the SMR competition organised by Great British Nuclear (GBN), aimed at integrating various technologies into the UK nuclear strategy. Rolls-Royce SMR, Westinghouse and Holtec are the other competitors.

Rolls-Royce SMR is the only design in the GBN competition to have completed Step 2 of the GDA process thus far, while other competitors are still in the earlier stages.

GE Vernova, the parent company of GE-Hitachi, has established a considerable presence in the UK, operating four manufacturing facilities (one of which NCE recently visited) and contributing to over 30% of the nation’s electricity generation. The firm is also actively working to bolster its UK supply chain, recently entering several partnerships with firms such as Aecon and Laing O’Rourke, alongside existing collaborations aimed at utilising local resources like Sheffield Forgemasters.

Regulator comments

Environment Agency New Reactors Programme manager Saffron Price-Finnerty said: “Our Environment Agency team has been working diligently with GE-Hitachi to achieve the first major milestone of the GDA of its BWRX-300 small modular reactor design and we’re now ready to move from Step 1, Initiation, to Step 2, Fundamental Assessment.

“During Step 2 our skilled and experienced team will be assessing the underpinning fundamentals of the BWRX-300, including identifying any specific environmental protection issues or concerns that we find.

“I’m grateful for the hard work of our team and that of GE-Hitachi to meet this milestone. We welcome GE-Hitachi’s initiative of taking a truly international approach in working towards a single design for global deployment. We’ll work with other regulators to see what can be achieved while ensuring protection of people and the environment, and we encourage people to engage with the next steps through the public comments process.”

ONR head of regulation for the GE-Hitachi BWRX-300 design Rob Exley said: “Step 2 of the GDA will mark the beginning of ONR’s technical assessment of the BWRX-300 reactor, where we’ll examine GE-Hitachi’s submissions setting out why it believes its generic design can be safely and securely deployed in Great Britain.

“We will also seek to build upon our collaborative partnerships with both the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission. We are fully supportive of GE-Hitachi’s ambition to maintain a standard reactor design with minimal design changes from country to country. As all our organisations are reviewing essentially the same design in parallel, ONR is committed to exploring all opportunities for more efficient regulation, the sharing of insights and information, considering common submissions and analysis, and enabling GE-Hitachi to maintain a common design as much as possible.”

Natural Resources Wales radioactivity & industry policy team leader Paul Gibson said: “As the project progresses to Step 2 (Fundamental Assessment), we will continue working closely with our regulatory partners, the Environment Agency and Office for Nuclear Regulation, on the GDA of the GE-Hitachi BWRX-300.”

Stakeholders celebrate

GE-Hitachi UK country leader Andy Champ 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.”

GE-Hitachi senior project director Chris Southern said: “This significant milestone underscores GE-Hitachi’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.”

ORLEN Synthos Green Energy (OSGE) is co-financing part of the licensing of the BWRX-300 with GE-Hitachi as part of the Future Nuclear Enabling Fund project.

OGSE CEO Rafał Kasprów said: “Congratulations to GE-Hitachi 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 GE-Hitachi’s proven technology. This allows for leveraging invaluable licensing experience in the nuclear industry, utilizsng 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).”

Amentum vice president for nuclear power Jon Fowler 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 GE-Hitachi on this application is accelerating the UK ambition to achieve greater energy security and meet its net-zero carbon targets.”

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