Samsung C&T Joins Global Partnership to Develop BWRX-300 SMR Fleet in Europe

Samsung C&T has forged a global partnership with GE Vernova, Hitachi, and Synthos Green Energy to develop a fleet of 300-megawatt, small modular reactors (SMRs) in Europe. The companies signed a memorandum of understanding at the Atlantic Council's Nuclear Energy Policy Summit in New York on September 22. The BWRX-300, a boiling water reactor technology, aims to benefit from standardized designs and modular construction to reduce costs and streamline deployment across multiple countries.

This fleet approach is crucial for SMRs, as economies rely on replicating the same reactor design across various sites. The four companies will pool their expertise in reactor technology, industrial manufacturing, engineering, procurement, and construction, as well as European project development. GE Vernova Hitachi will supply the reactor design, while Hitachi will contribute its nuclear technology and industrial capabilities.

Samsung C&T will leverage its experience in nuclear power and energy infrastructure projects, focusing on global EPC. Synthos Green Energy will lead BWRX-300 development in Europe, with a pipeline of potential projects in Poland and the UK. The UK is pursuing a fleet of 14 units across three multi-unit sites, totaling a combined capacity of 4.2 gigawatts.

Together, the projects in Poland and the UK represent 40 BWRX-300 units. The agreement marks Samsung C&T's role in the emerging SMR market, which could become increasingly important as projects transition from planning to construction. The first BWRX-300 unit is currently under construction in Canada, serving as a reference point for future European deployments.