GE-Hitachi's SMR Advances in U.K. Small Nuclear Competition

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Written by Martin Lynch, European News Editor for Industrial Info (Galway, Ireland)--The race to become the leading supplier of next-generation nuclear plants in the U.K. and Europe continues to intensify as the BWRX-300 small modular reactor (SMR) from GE-Hitachi Nuclear Energy International (Wilmington, North Carolina) advanced to the second stage of assessment by the country's Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR).

This makes GE-Hitachi Nuclear Energy International the third company to have its design progress to Step 2 of the three-step process, after Rolls-Royce (London, England) and U.S. company Holtec International (Jupiter, Florida) earlier this year. The Generic Design Assessment (GDA) is used to assess all proposed nuclear power-related technologies before the issuing of a Design Acceptance Confirmation (DAC) from the ONR as well as a separate Statement of Design Acceptability (SoDA) from the Environment Agency. Rolls-Royce's 470-megawatt (MW) SMR design is the only one so far to have advanced to the final Step 3 assessment, giving it a significant lead over its rivals.

"Based on the evidence provided, the regulators are satisfied that GE-Hitachi has demonstrated its readiness to proceed to Step 2," stated the regulators. "During Step 2, regulatory activity will be targeted on assessing the fundamental adequacy of the BWRX-300 design for deployment in England and Wales. This will consider the suitability of the methodologies, approaches, codes, standards and philosophies identified by GE-Hitachi in the generic safety, security, safeguards and environment cases for securing future regulatory permissions and permits."

"Progressing to Step 2 of the GDA demonstrates our unwavering desire to deliver a fleet of nuclear reactors in the U.K., said Andy Champ, GEH U.K. country leader. "Our design will be tried and tested through our partnership with Ontario Power Generation 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." GEH and OPG are developing the first BWRX-300 at OPG's Darlington site near Toronto, in Canada. 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.

The U.K.'s Great British Nuclear authority has whittled down the original six contenders in its SMR competition from six to four. Westinghouse Electric Company (Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania), Rolls-Royce, GE Hitachi and Holtec. NuScale Power Corporation (NYSE:SMR) (Portland, Oregon) and Electricite de France (EDF) (Paris, France) are no longer in the running. Two companies will be selected for funding support next spring to install multiple units at a selected site. The competition's outcome was expected this year but was delayed by the U.K.'s summer elections.

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