Driving next-generation nuclear in the United States

GVH’s legacy spans ~70 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 operations. 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.

94 commercial reactors provide a total of ~100 GW or about 20% of the nation’s total electricity generation. More than one third of those currently operating in the US are GE boiling water reactors (BWR).

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 GVH BWRX-300 is significantly smaller, with a building volume significantly less than previous boiling water reactor (BWR) designs mitigating the impact on 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 latest cybersecurity systems and well-trained on-site security personnel provide around-the-clock security.

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

The United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission (US NRC) is tasked with protecting public health and safety related to nuclear energy. It is an independent agency whose responsibilities include:

• Overseeing reactor safety and security
• Administering reactor licensing and renewal
• Licensing radioactive materials
• Radionuclide safety
• Managing spent fuel storage, security, recycling, and disposal

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

• 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
• Radioisotope production, a medical diagnostics tool and by-product of nuclear energy
• Research into producing steam supplies for industrial applications and district heating systems