GE Vernova, Hitachi, SGE, and Samsung C&T sign a memorandum of understanding to develop small modular reactors (BWRX-300) for energy supply.

An agreement to work together on market opportunities for deploying BWRX-300 small modular reactors in Europe was signed during the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

The signatories—Poland's SGE, the US's GE Vernova, Japan's Hitachi, and South Korea's Samsung C&T—will establish "a framework for cooperation on market development and commercial opportunities" for the BWRX-300 SMR. GE Vernova Hitachi Nuclear Energy, a joint venture between GE Vernova and Hitachi, designed the BWRX-300. Samsung Construction and Trading Corporation brings substantial experience in major nuclear and energy infrastructure projects, while SGE is already developing projects for a fleet of BWRX-300 reactors across Europe, notably in Poland and the UK.

The announcement linked the MOU to a memorandum of cooperation for SMR deployment in third countries signed at the NATO summit by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Japan Foreign Minister Motegi Toshimitsu, and Republic of Korea Foreign Minister Cho Hyun. The US Department of State characterized it as "a concrete industry effort to advance BWRX-300 deployment across Europe and deepen government-industry cooperation on global energy security."

Roger Martella, GE Vernova's Chief Corporate Officer and Chief Sustainability Officer, stated: "GE Vernova has a long-standing history and presence across the European continent. This collaboration brings together complementary capabilities to help advance BWRX-300 deployment across multiple markets and build on the momentum already behind the technology."

Yasunori Inada, CEO of Hitachi's Nuclear Energy Business Unit, noted: "This collaboration brings together the strengths and expertise of each partner, and Hitachi will contribute to exploring the deployment of the BWRX-300 in Europe by drawing on the technological capabilities cultivated through our nuclear business and on our collaboration with qualified Japanese suppliers."

Jung Wook Kim, Executive Vice President and Head of Global Business Unit and Global Operation at Samsung C&T, said: "Samsung C&T is honoured to open a new chapter in Europe's SMR business together with GE Vernova, Hitachi and SGE. Building on Samsung C&T's proven EPC capabilities, we will fully leverage the synergy created by this four-way partnership to strengthen Europe's energy security and contribute to the realisation of carbon neutrality."

Michał Sołowow, founder of SGE, observed: "Europe and the UK need a scalable commercial model for new nuclear, built on proven technology, established supply chains and world-class delivery partners. By combining GE Vernova Hitachi's BWRX-300 technology, Hitachi's industrial capabilities and Samsung C&T's global construction expertise, SGE is creating a platform to deploy standardised nuclear fleets across multiple markets."

The BWRX-300 is a 300 MWe water-cooled, natural circulation SMR with passive safety systems. It leverages the design and licensing basis of GE Vernova Hitachi's US Nuclear Regulatory Commission-certified ESBWR boiling water reactor and its licensed GNF2 fuel design—a combination GE Vernova Hitachi positions as delivering an "innovative, carbon-free baseload power generation source" this decade. The first unit is under construction at Ontario Power Generation's Darlington site in Canada, with completion expected by the end of the decade.

SGE is advancing multiple projects across Europe: in Poland, where a decision in principle has been issued for 26 BWRX-300 SMRs, and in the UK, where a proposal for 14 SMRs across three sites is being considered under the UK's Advanced Nuclear Framework programme.