GE Vernova Hitachi Nuclear Energy
Corporate brand
UnclaimedGE Vernova Hitachi Nuclear Energy is a GE Vernova–Hitachi joint venture supplying boiling-water reactor technology, nuclear fuel, advanced reactors, and lifecycle services.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
GE Vernova Hitachi Nuclear Energy (GEH) is a nuclear technology and services joint venture formed in 2007 by General Electric and Hitachi. Following GE Vernova’s separation from General Electric’s former power businesses, the venture operates within the GE Vernova and Hitachi relationship while retaining a global nuclear-energy identity. Its headquarters are in Wilmington, North Carolina, where GE’s nuclear manufacturing and engineering operations have been based for decades. The company’s principal technical heritage is in boiling-water reactors (BWRs). GE began nuclear work in the 1950s, supplied one of the earliest privately financed commercial nuclear reactors in the United States at Vallecitos, California, and participated in the development and construction of the Dresden Nuclear Power Station. From the 1960s onward, GE developed successive generations of BWR technology. Hitachi developed complementary nuclear engineering, manufacturing, construction, and service capabilities in Japan. The 2007 alliance combined these resources into a global business focused primarily on BWR technology, while also supporting pressurized-water reactors and other nuclear assets. GEH’s reactor portfolio includes the Advanced Boiling Water Reactor (ABWR), the Economic Simplified Boiling Water Reactor (ESBWR), the BWRX-300 small modular reactor, and the PRISM sodium-cooled fast reactor concept. The ABWR became one of the first advanced Generation III light-water reactor designs to enter commercial operation, while the ESBWR was developed as a simplified passive-safety design and received U.S. regulatory approval in the 2010s. The BWRX-300 is the company’s main current growth platform. It is a 300-megawatt-electric small modular boiling-water reactor intended to simplify construction, reduce the amount of site-specific work, and support repeat deployment through standardized production. Its prospective applications include grid electricity, industrial heat, replacement of retiring generation, and power for large energy users. The company also operates a substantial nuclear-services and fuel-cycle business. Services include refueling outages, plant maintenance, component replacement, inspections, engineering upgrades, power uprates, life-extension work, digital systems, workforce training, and simulator-based operational support. Its fuel operations produce uranium-dioxide materials, zirconium-alloy components, fuel bundles, and boiling-water-reactor fuel assemblies. Manufacturing and engineering activities are associated with facilities in Wilmington, North Carolina, and Kurihama in Yokosuka, Japan. GEH has also supplied fuel and services to reactors using heavy-water technology, although its main design heritage is in light-water BWRs. The company’s commercial strategy increasingly centers on advanced reactors and the international standardization of the BWRX-300. Ontario Power Generation selected the design for the Darlington New Nuclear Project, creating one of the most prominent early commercial pathways for a grid-scale SMR in North America. Other prospective programs have involved utilities and developers in Canada, the United States, Poland, the United Kingdom, Sweden, Estonia, and elsewhere. These projects remain subject to licensing, financing, construction, supply-chain, and political decisions. GEH therefore occupies both a traditional supplier role—servicing an installed fleet of nuclear plants—and a growth-oriented role in the emerging small-modular-reactor market.
History
GE Vernova Hitachi Nuclear Energy traces its technical lineage to the nuclear programs of General Electric and Hitachi. GE established an Atomic Power Equipment Department in 1955 and supplied a privately financed experimental commercial reactor at Vallecitos, California, which began producing electricity in 1957. GE also contributed to the Dresden Nuclear Power Station in Illinois in the following decade. During the 1960s, the company became deeply involved in the development and construction of boiling-water reactors. Research and engineering work continued across multiple generations of BWR technology, creating the design base later used by GEH. Hitachi developed a parallel nuclear business in Japan, including reactor engineering, manufacturing, construction, fuel, and maintenance capabilities. The companies began cooperating more closely before formally establishing GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy in June 2007. The alliance combined parts of their power businesses and created a global supplier centered on BWR technology. In Japan, the relationship is commonly associated with the Hitachi-GE Nuclear Energy name. GEH’s activities have included new-reactor design, fuel supply, component manufacturing, plant modernization, licensing assistance, and services for operating nuclear facilities. The alliance’s advanced-reactor work includes the ABWR, ESBWR, PRISM, and BWRX-300. The ABWR design was certified by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission in 1997 and became an important Generation III reactor platform. GEH submitted the ESBWR design for U.S. certification in 2005. The design received a positive safety evaluation in 2011, while final design approval and the associated rulemaking process were completed in 2014 after questions about steam-dryer loading were addressed. Hitachi also pursued U.K. generic design assessment for the ABWR after acquiring Horizon Nuclear Power; that assessment was completed in 2017. The company’s Canadian business formerly supplied fuel and services to heavy-water reactors and was known as GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy Canada. GE and Hitachi sold that operation to BWXT Canada in 2016, after which it adopted the BWXT Nuclear Energy Canada name. This transaction narrowed the Canadian business retained under the GEH identity while leaving the venture active in international reactor and service markets. In the late 2010s and 2020s, GEH shifted increasing attention toward advanced reactors and modular construction. It collaborated with Holtec International on commercialization of the SMR-160 and partnered with TerraPower on work related to the Natrium advanced reactor. Its principal commercial focus became the BWRX-300, a simplified 300-megawatt-electric boiling-water SMR derived from the ESBWR design philosophy. GEH began the U.S. regulatory licensing process in 2020 and subsequently pursued regulatory engagement in the United Kingdom and other markets. The BWRX-300 attracted prospective customers and development partners in Canada, Poland, the United States, Sweden, Estonia, and other European markets. In 2022, SaskPower selected the design for evaluation, while ORLEN Synthos Green Energy began Polish pre-licensing work. In 2023, Ontario Power Generation selected the reactor for the Darlington New Nuclear Project and TVA began preliminary licensing cooperation for a potential Clinch River deployment. These projects placed GEH among the most visible vendors seeking early commercial deployment of a grid-scale SMR. Alongside new-reactor development, GEH remains a major supplier to the existing nuclear fleet. Its services cover outages, inspections, plant upgrades, power and performance improvements, digital systems, training, fuel, and life-extension projects. Its Wilmington operations manufacture nuclear-fuel and reactor components, while the Kurihama site supports the Japanese nuclear supply chain. The company’s present identity therefore combines long-established BWR engineering and fuel expertise with an effort to create a repeatable international market for advanced modular reactors.
- 2023
Darlington BWRX-300 contract is signed
[1]GEH and its partners signed a contract connected with the proposed Darlington SMR project in Ontario.
- 2022
SaskPower selects BWRX-300 for evaluation
[1]The Saskatchewan utility selected the design for potential future deployment.
- 2020
BWRX-300 U.S. licensing process begins
[1]GEH began the U.S. regulatory licensing process for the BWRX-300 small modular reactor.
- 2017
Hitachi-GE ABWR completes U.K. generic design assessment
[1]The U.K. regulatory assessment of the Hitachi-GE ABWR design was completed.
- 2016
Canadian operations are sold to BWXT
[1]GE and Hitachi sold GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy Canada to BWXT Canada, which renamed the business.
- 2014
ESBWR receives final design approval
[1]The U.S. regulatory approval process for the ESBWR reached final design approval and rulemaking completion.
- 2011
ESBWR receives a positive safety evaluation
[1]The U.S. regulator issued a positive safety evaluation report for the Economic Simplified Boiling Water Reactor.
- 2007
GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy is established
[1]GE and Hitachi formally created their global nuclear-energy alliance.
- 1997
ABWR design receives U.S. certification
[1]The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission certified the GE-Hitachi Advanced Boiling Water Reactor design in final form.
- 1957
Vallecitos reactor supplies commercial electricity
[1]GE’s privately financed nuclear reactor at Vallecitos, California, began producing electricity for commercial use.
Products and positioning
A global nuclear technology and services supplier built around boiling-water-reactor expertise, with strategic emphasis on standardized small modular reactors, nuclear fuel, and lifecycle support for existing plants.
Small modular reactor · 2018
BWRX-300
The BWRX-300 is a 300-megawatt-electric boiling-water small modular reactor derived from GEH’s ESBWR technology base. It is intended to simplify reactor systems, reduce construction complexity, and support standardized, repeat deployments. The design uses low-enriched uranium fuel and is being pursued for utility-scale electricity, industrial applications, and replacement of retiring generation. Its leading prospective project is Ontario Power Generation’s Darlington New Nuclear Project.
Generation III boiling-water reactor · 1997
Advanced Boiling Water Reactor
The ABWR is an advanced light-water boiling reactor developed through GE and Hitachi’s nuclear engineering programs. It was certified by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission in 1997 and became one of the first Generation III reactor designs to operate commercially. The design incorporates updated safety systems, digital controls, and construction and operating improvements compared with earlier BWR generations.
Generation III+ boiling-water reactor · 2005
Economic Simplified Boiling Water Reactor
The ESBWR is a simplified Generation III+ boiling-water reactor design emphasizing passive safety and reduced system complexity. GEH submitted it for U.S. design certification in 2005. It received a positive safety evaluation in 2011 and final design approval in 2014 after regulatory issues concerning steam-dryer load modeling were resolved.
Generation IV sodium-cooled fast reactor
PRISM
PRISM is GEH’s sodium-cooled fast-reactor concept. Fast reactors use liquid sodium rather than ordinary light water as coolant and are designed to improve fuel utilization and potentially recycle uranium and transuranic materials. The concept represents a technology path separate from GEH’s principal BWR business and forms part of the company’s advanced-reactor portfolio.
Nuclear fuel
Nuclear fuel and fuel-cycle services
GEH supplies fuel-cycle products and services for nuclear operators. Its capabilities include uranium-dioxide powder and pellets, zirconium-alloy components, fuel assemblies, fuel-bundle production, fuel engineering, and related plant services. Wilmington is a major manufacturing and engineering location, while the Kurihama facility supports the Japanese market.
Nuclear services
Nuclear plant services
The services portfolio supports operating reactors throughout their lifecycles. It includes outage management, inspections, maintenance, component replacement, plant upgrades, power uprates, performance improvements, digital systems, life extension, engineering assistance, and virtual-reality or simulator-based training. The work covers GEH reactor technologies and selected customer fleets using other reactor designs.
Marketing campaigns
- 2022Wilmington operations expansion
United States
GEH announced an expansion of its Wilmington, North Carolina, operations to support anticipated BWRX-300 deployment and nuclear-sector demand.
Outcome. The company stated that the expansion was expected to create approximately 500 positions over five years.
Brand decisions
2023
Select the BWRX-300 for the Darlington projectProduct launchBackground
Ontario Power Generation was developing new nuclear capacity at the Darlington site and evaluating a grid-scale SMR.
Action taken
GEH, OPG, SNC-Lavalin, and Aecon entered into a contract connected with deployment of a BWRX-300 at Darlington.
Aftermath
The project became a leading North American reference case for the BWRX-300 and a central element of GEH’s SMR commercialization effort.
2020
Begin regulatory licensing for BWRX-300StrategyBackground
GEH sought to commercialize a smaller, more standardized reactor design for emerging SMR markets.
Action taken
The company initiated the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission licensing process for the BWRX-300.
Aftermath
The design became the center of GEH’s advanced-reactor strategy and attracted prospective utility and developer programs in North America and Europe.
2016
Divest the Canadian nuclear-energy businessM&ABackground
GEH Canada supplied fuel and services to Canadian nuclear operators, including facilities using heavy-water reactor technology.
Action taken
GE and Hitachi sold GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy Canada to BWXT Canada Ltd.
Aftermath
The business was renamed BWXT Nuclear Energy Canada and continued under new ownership.
2007
Create a GE–Hitachi nuclear allianceM&ABackground
GE and Hitachi sought to combine complementary nuclear engineering, manufacturing, reactor, fuel, and service capabilities.
Action taken
The companies combined relevant power businesses to establish GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy as a global joint venture.
Aftermath
The venture became a major international supplier of BWR technology and nuclear lifecycle services and later operated under the GE Vernova Hitachi Nuclear Energy identity.
Recent events
Reported
Kärnfull Next and GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy sign SMR deployment MoU[3]
Kärnfull Next and GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy signed a memorandum of understanding concerning deployment of the BWRX-300 small modular reactor in Sweden.
GE Hitachi agrees to cooperate with five Canadian firms on SMR supply chain[4]
GE Hitachi entered into an agreement with five Canadian companies—Aecon Nuclear, BWXT Canada Ltd., Hatch Ltd., Black & Veatch, and Overland Contracting Canada Inc.—to cooperate on construction, engineering, modularization, and manufacture of safety-related components for potential BWRX-300 construction and future services and components.
GE Hitachi and OPG collaborate on SMR deployment options[4]
GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy is working with Ontario Power Generation on options for the potential deployment of small modular reactors in Ontario, including GE Hitachi’s BWRX-300 design.
Reported
GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy and Synthos agree to explore SMR deployment in Poland[5]
GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy and Synthos agreed in a memorandum of understanding to investigate the potential construction of GEH’s BWRX-300 small modular reactor in Poland.
Sources5 sources
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