SGE SMR UK, the UK-based project company of European SMR developer and investor SGE, and Origin Nuclear have signed a letter of intent to establish a joint venture for the future operation of the planned UK BWRX-300 fleet.
Under the proposed arrangement, the two companies will work together to establish a UK-based nuclear operating company. Origin Nuclear will support the licensing process, commissioning and operational readiness of the reactors. Its responsibilities will also include plant operations, and centralised support services across the fleet.
SGE’s UK programme envisages 14 BWRX-300 reactors across three multi-unit sites, with the first unit starting commercial operation in 2034. Together, the reactors would have a generating capacity of 4.2GW, providing enough low-carbon electricity to meet approximately 11% of UK power demand, equivalent to the needs of almost eight million homes, for at least 60 years.
The programme is designed around the deployment of a standardised reactor fleet, allowing the same technology, operating practices and expertise to be applied across SGE UK’s multiple locations. The appointment of an experienced operating partner at this stage is intended to support preparations for licensing, commissioning, and future operations as the project advances.
“This is a significant step forward for our UK programme. Securing an operating partner is one of the most important decisions in developing a nuclear project, and with Origin Nuclear and its parent company OPG, we have a partner backed by more than a half century of nuclear experience and direct involvement in the first BWRX-300 project in Canada. It gives us greater confidence in our ability to deliver 14 reactors across three sites in the UK. Just as importantly, it brings us closer to establishing a long-term operating model that can support BWRX-300 projects across Europe,” said Rafał Kasprów, CEO of SGE.
“The Darlington New Nuclear Project, where OPG has begun construction of the first BWRX-300, will deliver the reliable, low-carbon electricity Ontario needs to meet rapidly growing demand, while creating opportunities for Origin Nuclear and other Ontario companies to showcase our expertise on the global stage,” said Jos Diening, Origin President and CEO.
Advancing the UK’s SMR programme
SGE announced its plans to deploy 14 GE Vernova Hitachi BWRX-300 reactors across three UK sites in July 2026. The programme is based on a fleet deployment model, with successive projects drawing on a common reactor design, supply chain and operating framework.
The first site is planned to accommodate six BWRX-300 reactors, followed by two further multi-unit sites. This approach is intended to support repeat construction, coordinated procurement and the transfer of experience between projects, while providing a substantial addition to the UK’s future nuclear generating capacity.
The programme is supported by an international delivery team comprising SGE, GE Vernova Hitachi Nuclear Energy, Samsung C&T, Laing O’Rourke, Aecon Group Inc., Fermi Development and Etara. Together, the companies bring expertise in reactor technology, engineering, construction, project development and industrial delivery.
SGE’s proposal is currently progressing through the Project Deep Dive under the UK’s Advanced Nuclear Framework (ANF).
The planned fleet will contribute to the UK’s long-term energy security by providing reliable, low-carbon electricity as existing generating capacity is retired and demand increases. It will also create opportunities for British industry to participate in the construction, supply and long-term operation of a new generation of nuclear power plants both in the UK and across Europe.
BWRX-300 deployment around the world
The BWRX-300 is a 300MW small modular reactor developed by GE Vernova Hitachi Nuclear Energy. It is the only commercially available SMR technology currently under construction anywhere in the world, backed by a company with more than 60 years of nuclear industry experience.
The reactor builds on proven boiling water reactor (BWR) technology, with 67 reactors of this type built worldwide. Many remain in operation in the United States, Japan, Sweden, Finland and Spain.
SGE is a co-investor in the standardised BWRX-300 design alongside GE Vernova Hitachi Nuclear Energy, Ontario Power Generation and the Tennessee Valley Authority. Its participation in this international programme allows SGE to apply lessons learned from the first North American projects to BWRX-300 developments in Poland and across Europe.
Construction of the world’s first BWRX-300 reactor is under way at Darlington in Ontario, Canada, where four units are planned. In the United States, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has issued a construction permit to the Tennessee Valley Authority for the first BWRX-300 reactor at the Clinch River site in Tennessee. The permit was issued in record time, ahead of schedule.
Experience gained from these projects will support the development of BWRX-300 reactors in the UK and across Europe. The technology has also been selected for projects being developed by SaskPower in Canada, Blue Energy in the United States and Studsvik in Sweden.
In September 2026, SGE, GE Vernova, Hitachi and Samsung C&T signed a cooperation agreement in New York to support BWRX-300 deployment in Central and Eastern Europe and the United Kingdom. The partnership combines the technology, industrial capabilities and construction expertise of leading global companies to support a common supply chain and fleet-scale reactor deployment across Europe.
