GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy (GEH)

Overview

GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy (GEH) is a world-leading provider of advanced reactors, fuel and nuclear services. The global nuclear alliance created by GE and Hitachi combines GE’s design expertise and history of delivering reactors, fuels and services with Hitachi’s proven experience in advanced modular construction.

As one of the first reactor Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) GE was instrumental in engineering, designing, procuring, manufacturing and constructing more than 80 nuclear power plants globally. Combined, these plants provide more than 70 GW of electricity. GE built the 30 MWe Boiling Water Reactor (BWR) in Vallecitos, California as a prototype in just two years, receiving the first atomic power license from the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission. In 1957 this reactor became the first privately owned and operated nuclear power plant to deliver electricity to the grid. After that, GE built the 180 MWe Dresden 1 BWR, the first private commercial nuclear power plant.

Today, GE is involved in all facets of the energy sector. The company designs and manufactures industry-leading gas and wind powered turbines, power quality equipment, nuclear power generation technologies and transmission and distribution technologies. GE recognizes the need for greater decarbonization and will continue to be a part of the decarbonization transformation. GE strongly believes that nuclear power — and specifically SMRs — must play a critical role in the transformation.

Earlier this year, GE announced a goal of achieving carbon neutrality for our own operations by 2030. With over 1,000 facilities across the globe including factories, test sites, warehouses and offices, the scale of GE’s industrial manufacturing footprint means that achieving our new goal will represent a significant reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.

Based in Wilmington, North Carolina, GE Hitachi operates facilities in Wilmington, San Jose, California, Vallectios, California and Morris, Illinois. Global Nuclear Fuel (GNF), a GE-led joint venture, operates fuel manufacturing facilities in Wilmington and Kurihama, Japan. GNF, through a joint venture with ENUSA, markets fuel for plants in Europe that is manufactured at a facility in Juzbado, Spain.

To support the operating fleet, GEH is guided by the fundamental principles that matter most to its customers: operational safety, plant performance, dose reduction, life extension, long term asset management and outage management.

GEH offers various nuclear technologies including gigawatt scale BWRs (the ABWR and ESBWR), the Generation IV PRISM sodium fast advanced reactor and game-changing BWRX-300 small modular reactor.

The company’s purpose statement looks to the future: “We build on our legacy, boldly innovating to provide reliable carbon-free power to the world.”

The BWRX-300 is a 300 MWe water-cooled, natural circulation SMR with passive safety systems that leverages the design and licensing basis of GEH’s U.S. NRC-certified ESBWR. Through dramatic design simplification, GEH projects the BWRX-300 will require significantly less capital cost per MW when compared to other water-cooled SMR designs or existing large nuclear reactor designs.

By leveraging the ESBWR design certification, utilizing licensed and proven nuclear fuel, incorporating proven components and supply chains and implementing simplification innovations, GEH believes that the BWRX-300 can become cost-competitive with power generation from combined cycle gas plants and renewable energy platforms.

Because of this unique, design-to-cost approach, the BWRX-300 small modular reactor is ideally positioned to help Canada meet a growing demand for affordable, clean, carbon-free energy.

In 2020, GEH submitted two packages to the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) for the Vendor Design Review (VDR) of the BWRX-300. The submittals addressed 14 of the 19 VDR focus areas including general plant description, control system and facilities, research and development and design process. GEH applauds Canada and the U.S. for signing the historic Memorandum of Cooperation to increase regulatory effectiveness of reviews of advanced reactor and small modular reactor technologies. This effort will further accelerate SMR deployment, while also demonstrating the need for international regulatory cooperation for SMRs.

Interest in the BWRX-300 technology is also growing globally. GEH has signed a cooperation agreement with Synthos Green Energy in Poland and have recently initiated the first steps in licensing the BWRX-300 in Poland. In addition, GEH has MOUs to examine the economic and technical feasibility of potential BWRX-300 construction with Fermi Energia in Estonia and ČEZ in the Czech Republic. In addition, GEH is engaged in conversation with several stakeholders and interested parties in both developed and emerging countries who are working toward carbon reduction targets.

GE has operated in Canada for more than 100 years and today has major manufacturing facilities and sales and service locations across the country. The company is investing in innovation across the country bringing together global expertise and advanced technology to address the challenges that businesses are facing in Canada and worldwide. Developing localized supply chains is a core competency of our company, and we are committed to maximizing content in Ontario and the entire country. We believe our actions will position Canada to not only meet its own SMR and decarbonization goals but position the country for the global SMR market in becoming a first mover in technology and its associated supply chain capabilities.

In April GEH conducted a webinar with the Organization of Canadian Nuclear Industries (OCNI) for Canadian suppliers interested in providing material, equipment and services in support of the possible BWRX-300 construction in Canada. In November GEH participated in a webinar hosted by the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business (CCAB) to encourage Indigenous businesses to join our effort. GEH intends to conduct additional supplier forums in the coming months and plans to invite all Canadian suppliers interested in potentially supplying goods and services for a BWRX-300 project.

GEH has entered into Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) with five Canadian companies. The MOUs with Aecon Nuclear, BWXT Canada Ltd., Hatch Ltd., Black & Veatch and Overland Contracting Canada Inc. (a Black & Veatch Company) form the foundation for the establishment of a Canadian supply chain to support potential BWRX-300 construction and provide future services and components. Through the MOUs GEH intends to cooperate in areas that include construction, engineering, modularization and manufacture of safety-related components. All five companies have extensive nuclear industry experience. This is just a start in our on-going efforts to maximize Canadian content.

GEH is also in the process of establishing a Canadian legal entity which will enable us to hire local talent across multiple disciplines to ensure the success of the project in the Ontario Province while providing high paying, local job.

GEH is honored to be part of this project in establishing Canada as a global leader in the SMR market and fully support the SMR Action Plan.

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