GE Vernova and Hitachi Ltd. have signed a memorandum of understanding to explore opportunities to deploy the BWRX-300 small modular reactor in Southeast Asia. The agreement was signed in Tokyo during the Indo-Pacific Energy Security Ministerial & Business Forum in the presence of U.S. Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum and Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Ryosei Akazawa.
Under the agreement, the companies will collaborate through the GE Vernova Hitachi Nuclear Energy and Hitachi GE Vernova Nuclear Energy joint ventures to identify potential commercial opportunities for the BWRX-300 reactor design across Southeast Asian markets. The initiative will also examine ways to incorporate qualified Japanese suppliers in order to strengthen the supply chain supporting potential deployment of the reactors in the region.
The BWRX-300 is a small modular reactor designed to provide approximately 300 megawatts of electricity, aimed at helping countries meet growing energy demand while supporting energy security and decarbonization goals. Governments across Southeast Asia have been evaluating nuclear power as part of broader strategies to diversify energy sources and reduce reliance on fossil fuels.
Momentum for the BWRX-300 technology has been building globally. The first reactor using the design is currently under construction at Ontario Power Generation’s Darlington site in Canada and is expected to be completed by the end of the decade, which would make it the first small modular reactor operating in the Western world. Four SMRs are planned for the Darlington location.
In the United States, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission is reviewing an application submitted by the Tennessee Valley Authority to construct the first U.S. BWRX-300 reactor at the utility’s Clinch River site in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. GE Vernova and Hitachi said these developments demonstrate growing interest in small modular reactors as utilities and governments seek scalable nuclear energy solutions.
GE Vernova said it is building on more than 130 years of experience in energy technologies as it works to support the global energy transition through electrification and decarbonization. Hitachi, which operates across digital systems, energy, mobility, and industrial sectors, has long collaborated with GE in nuclear technology and is aiming to expand that partnership as countries consider SMR deployment.
KEY QUOTES:
“As more nations look to nuclear power to meet their energy security needs, GE Vernova and Hitachi look forward to continuing our long history of collaboration in support of the global nuclear industry. Our SMR technology can be a powerful tool for countries across Southeast Asia for generations to come.”
Roger Martella — Chief Corporate Officer, GE Vernova
“Hitachi has continued to bring long-standing experience in nuclear technology, through our partnership with GE Vernova, and we are excited to do even more by exploring the deployment of the BWRX-300 in Southeast Asia. We aim to contribute to a sustainable energy future in the region by leveraging the capabilities of Hitachi and GE Vernova.”
Yasunori Inada — Vice President And Executive Officer, CEO Of Nuclear Energy Business Unit, Hitachi Ltd.
