Consortium Advances Swedish SMR Program with Focus on Supply Chain Development
A consortium consisting of Studsvik, GE Vernova Hitachi Nuclear Energy (GVH), GE Vernova Financial Services, DS Investment Partners, and Samsung C&T has signed an agreement to advance the ReFirm nuclear program at Studsvik's sites in Sweden. The ReFirm program, which became part of the Studsvik Group through the acquisition of Kärnfull Next, is a multi-site small modular reactor (SMR) and new nuclear development initiative. The program focuses on light-water SMR technology, with plans for multiple units at "SMR parks" and a target for the first unit to be commissioned in the mid-2030s.
Under the new agreement, the partners will immediately commence joint development work, covering commercial, technical, regulatory, and financing aspects during an exclusive period. Studsvik will be responsible for permitting, environmental impact assessments, site rights, community engagement, and dialogue with the Swedish state. GVH will lead reactor design, licensing support, and cost estimation, acting as the design authority. Together with Samsung C&T, GVH will form the execution team, providing single-point responsibility for design and construction delivery.
During the exclusivity period, DS Investment Partners will lead investment efforts, while GE Vernova Financial Services will provide advisory and financial structuring support. A joint project company will be established to manage the development, financing, construction, ownership, and operation of the plants, with definitive agreements to finalize these details. The agreement covers potential sites at Nyköping and Valdemarsvik, with initial development planned for a four-unit BWRX-300 project, totaling approximately 1,200 MWe, at one of these locations.
The phased, multi-unit structure is designed to promote standardization across the program and facilitate the application of lessons learned from early deployments to subsequent units, aiming to improve cost, schedule, and productivity. This approach also seeks to maximize Swedish industrial participation throughout engineering, procurement, construction, and long-term operations. The broader objective is to build a supply chain capable of supporting not only the initial project but also subsequent units and wider deployment opportunities in Sweden and Europe.
GVH's BWRX-300 is a 300 MWe water-cooled, natural circulation SMR featuring passive safety systems, leveraging the design and licensing basis of GEH's ESBWR boiling water reactor. The first BWRX-300 is currently under construction at Ontario Power Generation's Darlington site in Canada, with completion anticipated by the end of the decade.