GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy’s BWRX-300 Small Modular Reactor: A Game-Changer for the Power Industry
GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy is leading the way in the development of small modular reactors, with its BWRX-300 design aimed at reducing the cost of building new nuclear plants. The company’s strategy is to deploy small reactors across the developed world, with a goal of capturing a third of the market by 2035.
The BWRX-300 is designed to be more affordable and efficient than traditional nuclear reactors, with a smaller footprint and fewer components. It’s expected to cost between $2 billion and $4 billion to build, compared to $10 billion to $15 billion for a large nuclear plant. The reactor generates 300 megawatts of electricity, enough to power over 200,000 U.S. households.
The smaller size of the reactor offers more flexibility in terms of location, with the potential to deploy four such reactors on a single site, generating the same output as a single large reactor. This could provide utilities with more options for deploying small reactors, allowing them to generate power more efficiently and reduce their costs.
GE Hitachi is targeting over $2 billion in annual revenue from its small reactor business by the mid-2030s, with a goal of deploying between three to four reactors per year. The company has already signed a partnership with Ontario Power Generation, Tennessee Valley Authority, and Synthos Green Energy to invest $500 million in the BWRX-300 and launch the reactor at a commercial scale.
The tech sector is also showing growing interest in small nuclear reactors, with Microsoft, Amazon, and Alphabet’s Google making investments in the technology. While these companies may not be planning to build and operate their own nuclear plants, they could support the deployment of new reactors by purchasing dedicated power from utilities, driving demand for small reactors.
The future of the power industry is likely to be shaped by the development of small modular reactors, with GE Hitachi’s BWRX-300 leading the way. As the company continues to deploy its innovative technology, it may play a key role in meeting surging electricity demand and reducing carbon dioxide emissions.
