BWRX-300: A real path forward for Sweden’s energy goals

GE Vernova Hitachi's legacy spans over 65 years and includes licenses for 67 reactors across 10 countries. We are recognized for our track record of quality and excellence, which we plan to sustain in the future.

Nuclear power is one of the most sustainable forms of energy available, generating electricity without releasing greenhouse gases during operation. Its role is critical in building a more environmentally responsible grid, complementing renewable power sources like wind and solar during production intermittencies.

The BWRX-300’s configuration is engineered to achieve lower construction and operating costs than traditional nuclear power technologies and uses licensed and commercially available GNF2 fuel.

Additionally, the BWXR-300 uses a modular construction method, enabling the unit to be built in about 24 to 36 months. Its compact configuration reduces the overall plant site by about 90% and uses about 50% less concrete per unit of energy produced compared to traditional large BWR, while still outputting 300 MW(e).

Nuclear power plants are the most land-efficient means of electricity production, requiring only 2.4 km²/TWh per year—including the plant, cooling infrastructure, and exclusion zone. However, an SMR like the BWRX-300 is significantly smaller than a traditional large unit, with a building volume significantly less than previous boiling water reactor (BWR) configurations, mitigating the impact on the surrounding environment.

Many countries have safely used nuclear power for well over 60 years. It is one of the most closely monitored and regulated industries in the world. The up-to-date cybersecurity systems and well-trained on-site security personnel provide around-the-clock security.

The reactors themselves are built to stringent safety specifications, are constantly monitored, and are layered with multiple redundancy systems to maintain the strong track record of safety the industry has achieved.

The BWRX-300 is a Generation III+ reactor configuration that uses passive safety systems and natural circulation to transfer heat from the reactor and containment. This helps maintain pressure and temperature within design limits in the rare event of accident conditions or coolant loss, further improving safety margins compared with today’s Generation II and Generation III reactors in operation.

Many uses for nuclear technology exist beyond power generation, including:

• Medical applications for diagnostics or cancer treatments with radioisotopes produced as a by-product from nuclear energy.
• Using radiation to kill bacteria, insects, and parasites that can cause food-borne diseases
• Production of new crop varieties
• Industrial inspection: examining the molecular and macroscopic structure of materials
• Nuclear gauges that use a radioactive source to detect item characteristics (that is, thickness, density, or chemical makeup)
• Desalination to produce clean drinking water
• Fuel for various modes of travel
• Numerous consumer products—from smoke detectors and cosmetics to frying pans and photocopiers
• Research into producing steam supplies for industrial applications and district heating systems

Spent fuel is managed through a well-established system with strict regulations, oversight, and methods for short and intermediate-term storage as well as final disposal. The BWRX-300 produces the same type of spent fuel as today’s operating reactors, meaning it would already fit into Sweden’s existing KBS-3 framework for handling nuclear materials.

Read more about Sweden’s repository for spent fuel.