Origin Nuclear and SGE UK have signed a letter of intent to establish a UK-based nuclear operating company to support the proposed deployment of 14 small modular reactors (SMRs).
Origin Nuclear is a subsidiary of Ontario Power Generation (OPG), while SGE UK is the UK project company of Polish SMR developer and investor SGE.
Operating support for three sites
SGE UK said Origin Nuclear would support licensing, commissioning and operational readiness for the reactors. Its responsibilities would also include plant operations and centralised support services across the fleet.
The company has previously outlined plans for 14 GE Vernova Hitachi BWRX-300 reactors, each with a capacity of 300MW, across three UK sites. It envisages the first unit entering commercial operation in 2034.
SGE UK said the fleet would provide 4.2GW of generating capacity, equivalent to approximately 11% of UK power demand and the electricity needs of almost 8 million homes, for at least 60 years.
SGE CEO Rafał Kasprów said securing an operating partner was “one of the most important decisions in developing a nuclear project”. He said Origin Nuclear and OPG’s experience would give SGE “greater confidence” in delivering the reactors and help establish an operating model for BWRX-300 projects across Europe.
Origin president and CEO Jos Diening said the agreement would help position Ontario’s nuclear supply chain to compete for international opportunities as OPG develops new nuclear infrastructure in Canada.
Programme under UK assessment
SGE’s proposal is currently progressing through the Project Deep Dive stage of the UK’s Advanced Nuclear Framework, according to the company.
The wider delivery team includes SGE, GE Vernova Hitachi Nuclear Energy, Samsung C&T, Laing O’Rourke, Aecon, Fermi Development and Etara.
OPG is building the first BWRX-300 at the Darlington site in Ontario, where four units are planned. SGE is also a co-investor in the standardised reactor design alongside GE Vernova Hitachi Nuclear Energy, OPG and the Tennessee Valley Authority.
SGE UK previously identified Oldbury-on-Severn as a site in which it had expressed indicative interest. However, Great British Energy – Nuclear said it had no record of that claimed interest. Oldbury-on-Severn was not named among the three sites in the latest announcement.