GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy and Fermi Energia have signed a cooperation agreement to further assess the suitability of the BWRX-300 small modular reactor for Estonia's future electricity security.
GE Hitachi will support Fermi Energy in a deeper analysis of the various key issues and advise on licensing, workforce training and the evaluation of potential local manufacturers and service providers.
Fermi Energia and GE Hitachi signed a Memorandum of Understanding in 2019 to explore the feasibility of building a BWRX-300 small modular reactor nuclear power plant. "This agreement will intensify our cooperation to enable Estonia to ensure security of supply in the future and to meet our climate targets," said Jon Ball, Vice President of Ge Hitachi. "We believe that the innovative BWRX-300 small modular reactor is the ideal solution for Estonia's carbon-free power generation and we look forward to continuing to work with the Fermi Energia team in the future."
"With this agreement, we are expanding the cooperation that started in 2019 and gathering more accurate data on the basis of which we can make the necessary decisions for the planning of the nuclear power plant in the course of the special national planning," Kalev Kallemets, member of the Fermi Energia Board, explained the content of the agreement.
The BWRX-300 is a 300 megawatt electrical capacity modular reactor with a natural cooling water cycle, using passive safety systems (the reactor's safety is guaranteed by the laws of nature, independent of external energy supply and human intervention). The reactor is based on the ESBWR reactor type already licensed in the United States, which has been substantially upgraded and simplified. This, according to the developers, will allow both a more competitive plant construction price per unit of generating capacity compared to other VMR developers and a faster licensing process.
Fermi Energy is evaluating technologies offered by a number of reactor developers, such as Rolls Royce UKSMR, Moltex Energy SSR-W300, NuScale, Terrestrial IMSR-400 and Ultra Safe Nuclear Company. The final choice of technology will be made no earlier than the first reactor type of its kind has been licensed, built and proven in the US, Canada or the UK.
GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy (GEH) is the world's leading provider of advanced reactors and nuclear services. Founded in 2007, GEH is a global alliance of General Electric Company (GE) and Hitachi serving the nuclear industry.
Press release in English on the GE Hitachi website: https://www.ge.com/news/press-releases/ge-hitachi-nuclear-energy-and-fermi-energia-advance-small-modular-reactor-technology
