GE Vernova and Emirates Nuclear Energy Partner on BWRX-300 SMR Technology Deployment

GE Vernova and Emirates Nuclear Energy have signed an MoU to evaluate the deployment of BWRX-300 Small Modular Reactor (SMR) technology internationally. The agreement aims to explore the potential of BWRX-300 SMR technology for power generation and to assess its feasibility for use in various international markets. GE Vernova is an industrial group with expertise in various energy technologies, including nuclear and wind power generation.

Abu Dhabi, UAE (May 27, 2025) - GE Vernova and the Emirates Nuclear Energy Company (ENEC) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to jointly evaluate the deployment of the BWRX-300 Small Modular Reactor (SMR) technology internationally. The agreement was signed on the sidelines of the World Utilities Congress in Abu Dhabi, UAE, and aims to explore the potential of BWRX-300 SMR technology for power generation and assess its feasibility for use in various international markets.

The MoU builds on the 2023 agreement signed during COP 28 in Dubai as part of ENEC’s ADVANCE program. It enables ENEC and GE Vernova to collaborate on a comprehensive roadmap for the deployment of the BWRX-300 SMR technology, including site identification, licensing pathways, investment strategies, and supply chain development. ENEC, as the operator of the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant in Abu Dhabi, brings significant expertise in nuclear energy deployment, while GE Vernova, through its alliance with Hitachi, is a world-leading provider of nuclear fuel bundles, services, and advanced reactor designs.

The BWRX-300 is a compact, advanced nuclear technology designed to deliver safe, efficient, and carbon-free energy. Each unit can generate around 300 megawatts of electricity, enough to power roughly 300,000 homes. The technology is gaining momentum worldwide, with the Province of Ontario and Ontario Power Generation (OPG) approving the deployment of the first BWRX-300 at the Darlington nuclear site in Ontario, Canada. Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) has also submitted an application for the construction of the first BWRX-300 in the US at the Clinch River site in Oak Ridge, Tennessee.

The collaboration between ENEC and GE Vernova is part of ENEC’s broader strategy to identify investment, collaboration, and deployment opportunities for civil nuclear energy both in the UAE and overseas. The ADVANCE program, created to accelerate the evaluation and potential deployment of next-generation nuclear technologies, will guide this initiative.

The signing ceremony was attended by HE Mohamed Al Hammadi, Managing Director and CEO of ENEC, and Maví Zingoni, CEO of GE Vernova’s Power segment. Both leaders expressed their commitment to exploring opportunities for international deployment and advancing new solutions to meet the growing global demand for sustainable power.

This MoU signifies a significant step forward in the development and deployment of advanced nuclear technologies, particularly SMRs, which are seen as crucial solutions to meeting the current unprecedented demand for reliable, dispatchable, and sustainable power. As the world continues to seek cleaner and more efficient energy sources, the collaboration between ENEC and GE Vernova is poised to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of nuclear energy.

References:
[1] https://www.gevernova.com/news/press-releases/enec-ge-vernova-hitachi-sign-small-modular-reactor-deployment-evaluation-mou-during-world-utilities-congress
[2] https://solarquarter.com/2025/05/22/tva-advances-clean-energy-future-with-planned-ge-vernova-small-modular-reactor-in-tennessee/