July 2, 2026
LONDON, 2 July 2026 – SGE, a European Small Modular Reactor (SMR) development and investment platform, yesterday announced its plans to build fourteen GE Vernova Hitachi BWRX-300 Small Modular Reactors on three sites in the UK. The deployment team includes SGE, GE Vernova Hitachi Nuclear Energy, Samsung C&T, Laing O’Rourke, Aecon Group Inc., Fermi Development, Etara and an experienced nuclear operator.
The company has submitted an application under the UK’s Advanced Nuclear Framework (ANF) to develop a combined 4.2GW fleet which could deliver enough clean power for 11% of UK power demand or equivalent to an estimated almost eight million homes for at least sixty years. To support this ambition, SGE has established SGE SMR UK Limited as its dedicated UK-based project vehicle.
SGE’s proposal reflects a fleet-based development model, centred on repeatable deployment at scale. The project is targeting three multi-unit sites, the first to host six BWRX-300 units, with two further sites to follow in quick succession. In total, the programme represents a significant addition to the UK’s future nuclear capacity and supports the country’s long-term energy security, clean power and industrial growth ambitions.
The UK project builds on significant regulatory groundwork already in place for the BWRX-300, a tenth generation, proven technology that draws on the experience of 67 successful reactor deployments. The technology is under licensed construction in Canada and is on schedule to be the first SMR to operate in the OECD. In December 2025, the BWRX-300 successfully completed Step 2 of the UK’s Generic Design Assessment.
The partnership brings together proven reactor technology, significant project development experience, industrial capability and supply chain expertise and financing structure experience to support the deployment of the BWRX-300 in the UK. SGE is presenting a privately financed, commercially-led investment, supported by strong delivery partners. SGE plans to deploy under a Contract for Difference framework with National Wealth Fund engagement, meaning there will be no charges to consumers prior to operations.
Michał Sołowow, Founder of SGE, said: “We are focused on delivering efficient, safe, affordable, and clean nuclear energy power at fleet scale. The UK is home to one of the world’s most experienced nuclear workforce and the British Government has provided a clear path to market with the Advanced Nuclear Framework. Because of this, I am confident we will set a new standard for nuclear development by combining our disruptive business model with the BWRX-300’s tenth generation proven technology. We will rely strongly on the UK supply chain; it is a critical element for our project. Our project will create a distinct competitive advantage for UK economy.”
Rafał Kasprów, CEO of SGE, said: “The submission of our application under the Advanced Nuclear Framework marks a major milestone in our ambition to develop a fleet of BWRX-300 small modularreactors across the UK and the European Union. The United Kingdom is one of Europe’s most important and capable nuclear markets, with a highly skilled workforce, a strong industrial base, and a strategic need to lead the next generation of nuclear deployment. With a clear requirement for substantial new nuclear capacity over the coming decades, we believe our approach can make a meaningful contribution at scale. Standardisation, repetition, modularisation, and a fleet deployment strategy are the most effective ways to deliver new nuclear projects successfully, reducing costs, construction risk, and delivery times. We are committed to working with UK partners to provide secure, affordable, and clean electricity to millions of British households for generations to come.”
Jason Cooper, CEO of GE Vernova Hitachi Nuclear Energy, said: “SGE’s vision reflects the growing momentum behind new nuclear across Europe and the critical role SMRs can play in strengthening energy security while delivering reliable, lower-carbon electricity. With construction already underway at the Darlington New Nuclear Project in Ontario, Canada, the first commercial-scale SMR under construction in the Western world, the BWRX-300 offers the confidence that comes from real project execution. We are proud to support SGE as they pursue this important opportunity in the UK.”
John O’Connor, Group Commercial Director of Laing O’Rourke, said: “Laing O’Rourke brings the power of its nuclear experience and pioneering industrialised construction methods to the development of Small Modular Reactors, like this programme, of which we are pleased to play a part. We are applying lessons learned from the use of advanced manufacturing in the construction of large-scale and other complex infrastructure to boost safety and certainty for our partners and clients.”
Aaron Johnson, Senior Vice President, Nuclear, Aecon Group Inc., said: “Aecon is proud to serve as a leading partner on Ontario Power Generation’s Darlington New Nuclear Project, supporting the first-of-a-kind BWRX-300 deployment in Canada. Drawing on deep expertise in construction management, advanced automation, fabrication, and modularization, Aecon is helping to drive meaningful improvements in safety, quality, schedule certainty, and cost efficiency. Early involvement in this landmark project positions Aecon to leverage first-of-a-kind experience and tailor proven approaches for SGE in the UK and in other international markets. We are building capabilities and insights that will enable us to support efficient and scalable deployment across North America and in global markets, including the UK.”
SGE anticipates this project will enter the Advanced Nuclear Pipeline in November 2026, with site selection and government support scheme negotiations completed in the first half of 2027; after which major investment, site preparation and licensing work would begin within approximately a year, with first commercial operation of the first unit targeted for 2034.
Notes to Editors
In December 2025, GE Vernova Hitachi’s BWRX-300 successfully completed Step 2 of the Generic Design Assessment conducted by the Environment Agency, the Office for Nuclear Regulation, and Natural Resources Wales. Regulators confirmed that their assessment identified no fundamental safety, security, safeguards, or environmental protection shortfalls with the design that could prevent its deployment in England and Wales. The assessment was also recognised as the quickest GDA engagement completed to date.
The BWRX-300 is a small modular reactor technology developed by GE Vernova Hitachi Nuclear Energy, designed to provide clean, reliable and cost-competitive baseload power through a simplified design for fleet-based development.
About SGE
SGE is a European small modular reactor (SMR) development platform, established in 2019 and headquartered in Warsaw. The company is a co-investor in a standardized project based on theworld’s most advanced commercially available SMR technology – the BWRX-300 reactor, developed by GE Vernova Hitachi Nuclear Energy. By combining proven technology with an innovative business model, SGE has become a leading SMR project developer in Europe. The company is currently developing partnerships and projects in over half a dozen European countries. Its flagship project is being implemented in Poland in collaboration with global energy leader ORLEN, with work underway at three sites and the first unit expected to be commissioned in 2032.
About GE Vernova Hitachi Nuclear Energy
GE Vernova’s Nuclear energy business, through its global alliance with Hitachi, is a world-leading provider of nuclear fuel bundles, services, and advanced nuclear reactor designs. Technologies include boiling water reactors and small modular reactors, such as the BWRX-300, which is one of the simplest, yet most innovative boiling water reactor designs. GE Vernova’s Nuclear fuel business, Global Nuclear Fuel (GNF), is a world-leading supplier of boiling water reactor fuel and fuel-related engineering services. GNF is a GE Vernova-led joint venture with Hitachi, Ltd. and operates primarily through Global Nuclear Fuel-Americas, LLC in Wilmington, N.C., and Global Nuclear Fuel-Japan Co., Ltd. in Kurihama, Japan. HITACHI is a trademark of Hitachi, Ltd. used under trademark license. GE is a trademark of General Electric Company used under trademark license.
About Samsung C&T
Samsung C&T’s Engineering & Construction Group has more than 40 years of engineering and construction experience operating throughout the world. The group spans commercial and residentialbuildings, civil infrastructure and plant construction. Its landmark projects include Burj Khalifa – the world’s tallest building, the ongoing Riyadh Metro Project in Saudi Arabia, the Qurayyah 4,000MW CCPP Project, and the ongoing Qatar 2,000MW Solar Power Project. In the nuclear energy sector, the company has successfully delivered 12GW across 10 units, including the 5.6GW Barakah Nuclear Power Plant in the UAE. It has recently undertaken the Nuclear Power Plant refurbishment project and Front-End Engineering Design (FEED) for Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), demonstrating its global competitiveness in large-scale reactor and SMR technologies, and solidifying its expertise across all areas of the nuclear industry.
About Laing O’Rourke
Laing O’Rourke is the UK’s largest privately owned engineering and construction company and delivers state-of-the-art infrastructure and buildings projects for clients in the UK, Middle East and Australia. In the UK, we have a unique operating model based on digital design and advanced manufacturing technologies and we deliver our projects via our integrated supply chain of specialist in-house businesses. This increases alignment and reduces risk during the construction programme – providing the certainty clients and investors want. We manufacture a wide range of components for projects at our UK factories, in the East and West Midlands and we continue to invest in and expand our manufacturing footprint as we progress our plans to bring advanced manufacturing into construction. Our unique operating model and commitment to innovation and excellence enable us to stay true to our purpose: to push the boundaries of what’s possible in service of humanity.
About Aecon Group Inc.
Aecon Group Inc. (TSX: ARE) is a North American construction and infrastructure development company with global experience. Aecon delivers integrated solutions to private and public-sectorclients through its Construction segment in the Civil, Urban Transportation, Nuclear, Utility and Industrial sectors, and provides project development, financing, investment, management, and operations and maintenance services through its Concessions segment. Join our online community on X, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram @AeconGroupInc.
About Fermi Development
Fermi Development is a UK‑based developer focused on accelerating the delivery of new nuclear. With a decade of renewable energy development expertise, Fermi is leading the way in progressingprivate sector-led development, taking a practical, delivery-focused approach, aligned with emerging government policy. Our integrated, sequential approach, purpose built for the deployment of SMRs, focuses on risk reduction and investibility, while charting a course through the DCO, permitting and regulatory landscape.We know this approach works as it is grounded in a decade’s experience developing major energy projects across the UK. Fermi has already screened more than 100 sites, with around 40 sites identified as potentially developable, enabling a fleet approach through application of a consistent model, which is central to schedule resilience, delivery and investor confidence.
About Etara
Etara is a specialist advisory and consultancy group serving companies, governments, and institutional investors across the power, utilities, and infrastructure sectors that brings together senior experts with deep transactional expertise and in particular nuclear support scheme design capabilities. The team has combined >200 years of professional experience at the highest levels of finance, law, and industry and personal credentials that include advisory roles on nuclear projects in Poland, Sweden, Belgium, Czechia, Hungary, Turkey, Finland, Holland, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Lithuania as well as the UK’s Hinkley Point C, Sizewell C and Wylfa.
