Ontario-based BWX Technologies (BWXT) has been awarded an engineering contract by GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy (GEH) for its BWRX-300 small modular reactor (SMR) reactor pressure vessel (RPV). Work associated with the contract includes engineering analysis, design support, manufacturing and procurement preparations. John MacQuarrie, president of BWXT Commercial Operations said intricate design projects such as the RPV for GEH’s BWRX-300 “are well-suited for BWXT’s engineering capabilities”.

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 ESBWR which has US Nuclear Regulatory Commission certification. The RPV, which contains the reactor core and associated internals, comprises the largest component within the BWRX-300. As a result of design simplification, GEH claims the BWRX-300 will require significantly less capital cost per MW compared with other SMR designs.

Earlier in March, the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) said it had completed a combined phases 1&2 vendor design review (VDR) of GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy’s BWRX-300 boiling water reactor. The VDR takes place during the design process and gives CNSC an opportunity to provide early feedback. It is an optional service provided by CNSC at the request of a vendor. It does not involve issuance of a licence, or influence subsequent CNSC decisions.

BWXT said its latest announcement “supports recent demonstrations of interest in SMR development by utilities and project developers across North America and Europe”. It follows a GEH press release made in October 2021, in which GEH announced it had entered into a teaming agreement with BWXT Canada to cooperate on engineering and procurement to support the design, manufacturing and commercialisation of the BWRX-300 SMR.

In February, Estonia's Fermi Energia selected the BWRX-300 for potential deployment by the early 2030s and expects to sign a project development and preliminary works contract with GEH. In January, GEH, Ontario Power Generation (OPG), SNC-Lavalin and Aecon signed a contract for the deployment of a BWRX-300 SMR at OPG's Darlington site. In August 2022, Tennessee Valley Authority began planning and preliminary licensing for potential deployment of a BWRX-300 at the Clinch River Site in Tennessee. Canada's SaskPower in June 2022 selected the BWRX-300 for potential deployment in Saskatchewan in the mid-2030s.

Image: Cutaway of the BWRX-300 plant (courtesy of GE Hitachi)