GE Vernova, Hitachi to explore SMR deployment in Southeast Asia

GE Vernova Hitachi Nuclear Energy (GVH) and Samsung C&T have announced a strategic alliance to advance deployment of the BWRX-300 small modular reactor (SMR) in global markets, including Southeast Asia. The partnership combines GVH's SMR technology with Samsung C&T's engineering and construction expertise to develop supply chains and project delivery solutions for the BWRX-300, a 300 MW reactor designed to power approximately 300,000 homes. While initial efforts focus on Sweden, where Vattenfall has selected the BWRX-300 for potential deployment at the Ringhals site, the companies have emphasized expanding collaboration to Southeast Asia and the Middle East.

Samsung C&T's Engineering & Construction Group, with over 40 years of global infrastructure experience, has delivered projects such as the UAE's Barakah Nuclear Power Plant and is currently involved in SMR-related initiatives in Romania and Estonia. The company's partnership with GVH aims to leverage its EPC (engineering, procurement, and construction) capabilities alongside GVH's validated SMR technology to optimize project efficiency. The first BWRX-300 unit is under construction in Canada, with completion expected by the end of the decade, marking the first SMR in the Western world.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission is also reviewing Tennessee Valley Authority's application to build a BWRX-300 in the U.S., while Poland's Orlen Synthos Green Energy has identified a site for its first SMR. These developments underscore growing global interest in SMRs as a scalable, lower-cost alternative to traditional nuclear reactors. The alliance's focus on Southeast Asia aligns with regional demand for reliable, low-carbon energy solutions, though specific project timelines or locations remain unannounced.