Four BWRX-300 small reactors target 1.2 GW of nuclear power by the mid-2030s

Sweden is moving ahead with plans for a new 1.2 GW nuclear power project, with four small modular reactors potentially coming online from the mid-2030s. Studsvik has selected GE Vernova Hitachi Nuclear Energy and Samsung C&T as strategic partners for the project, which will use the BWRX-300 small modular reactor. The first four-unit project will be developed at either Studsvik’s existing licensed nuclear site in Nyköping or a proposed site in Valdemarsvik. The four reactors would provide about 1,200 MWe of combined generating capacity. The project is part of the ReFirm nuclear program, a multi-site development effort that aims to establish a fleet of SMRs in Sweden and potentially support wider deployment across Europe. The project is still in development and does not represent a final investment decision or approval to begin construction. The partners will now work on commercial, technical, regulatory and financing activities before a final decision is made. Four reactors, one blueprint The choice of four units is central to the plan. Rather than developing a single reactor as a standalone project, the partners intend to use the first four-unit plant to establish a repeatable model for later reactors. That approach could allow lessons from early units to be applied to subsequent projects, potentially improving construction costs, schedules and productivity. It also aims to create a Swedish supply chain capable of supporting engineering, procurement, construction and long-term plant operations. Studsvik will handle permitting, environmental assessment, site rights and engagement with the Swedish government and local communities. GE Vernova Hitachi will lead reactor design, licensing support and cost estimates, while Samsung C&T will contribute construction and engineering capabilities. The BWRX-300 is a 300 MWe boiling water reactor designed around a simplified architecture compared with conventional large reactors. GE Vernova Hitachi says experience from the Darlington New Nuclear Project in Canada is helping move the design toward deployment at fleet scale. “Today’s announcement is about helping Sweden turn its energy ambitions into reality in a timeframe that matters for its communities and industries. The country has a strong foundation of nuclear expertise and operational excellence, and the BWRX-300 combines proven boiling water reactor technology with the lessons being learned every day at the Darlington New Nuclear Project in Canada.” Sweden builds nuclear pipeline A joint project company will be established to support the development, financing, construction, ownership and operation of the plants. DS Investment Partners will lead investment activities during the exclusivity period, while GE Vernova Financial Services will advise on financial structuring. Sweden’s nuclear rules changed in 2026, allowing reactors to be developed at sites beyond the country’s three existing nuclear plants, subject to government approval. A separate state financing framework includes loans and two-way contracts for difference intended to support new nuclear projects. For Studsvik, the program also builds on more than seven decades of nuclear expertise. Its Nyköping site already hosts a licensed nuclear facility, while an application for a new nuclear facility at Valdemarsvik was submitted in March 2026. “One reactor is a project. Four is the start of an industry.”If approved and financed, the first ReFirm project is expected to put Sweden on a path toward its first new nuclear generation in decades, with the first BWRX-300 unit targeted for operation in the mid-2030s.Get the latest in engineering, tech, space & science - delivered daily to your inbox.With over a decade-long career in journalism, Neetika Walter has worked with The Economic Times, ANI, and Hindustan Times, covering politics, business, technology, and the clean energy sector. Passionate about contemporary culture, books, poetry, and storytelling, she brings depth and insight to her writing. When she isn’t chasing stories, she’s likely lost in a book or enjoying the company of her dogs.