Nuclear developer GVH and South Korean group Samsung C&T have announced a strategic partnership aimed at promoting the global deployment of the BWRX-300 small modular reactor (SMR), excluding North America. The agreement outlines joint efforts on supply chain development and project delivery solutions, alongside a shared interest in a potential installation of five units in Sweden.
The BWRX-300 is a 300 MWe water-cooled SMR using natural circulation and passive safety systems. It builds on the design basis of the ESBWR boiling water reactor developed by GE Hitachi. GVH, a joint venture between GE Vernova and Hitachi Ltd focused on nuclear energy, is currently overseeing the construction of the first BWRX-300 at Ontario Power Generation’s Darlington site in Canada. Commissioning of this unit is expected before the end of the decade.
Operational partnership for international nuclear projects
Samsung C&T, through its Engineering & Construction Group, brings over 40 years of experience in delivering large-scale infrastructure, including its role in the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant in the United Arab Emirates. Its nuclear capabilities span the full project lifecycle from design through delivery.
The agreement with GVH seeks to leverage these technical and operational capacities to meet growing demand for nuclear capacity with a reduced physical footprint. Among ongoing projects, Sweden stands out, with the BWRX-300 shortlisted by Vattenfall as one of two designs for new capacity at its Ringhals plant site on the Värö Peninsula. The competing design is the Rolls-Royce SMR.
Expanded ambitions in Eastern Europe
Beyond Sweden, the BWRX-300 has been selected by Orlen Synthos Green Energy for deployment in Włocławek, Poland, marking the country’s first SMR project. In the United States, the Tennessee Valley Authority has submitted a regulatory application to build a unit at the Clinch River site in Tennessee.
In the Baltic region, Samsung C&T signed an agreement in April with Estonia’s Fermi Energia to collaborate on deploying two BWRX-300 reactors in Estonia. The move reflects a broader European anchoring strategy as several countries reassess their energy policy around standardised and modular nuclear technologies.
The BWRX-300 is promoted as a scalable, low-risk solution ready for commercial deployment. Its alignment with existing regulatory frameworks and deployment flexibility is attracting interest from public and private sector stakeholders seeking energy diversification.
