GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy

GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy

Company type	Joint venture
Industry	Nuclear power
Founded	June 2007; 17 years ago (2007-06)
Headquarters	Wilmington, North Carolina, US
Area served	Worldwide
Key people	Craig Ranson (president & CEO)
Owner	GE Vernova Hitachi
Number of employees	3,000
Website	gevernova.com/nuclear

GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy (GEH) is a provider of advanced reactors and nuclear services. It is headquartered in Wilmington, North Carolina, United States. Established in June 2007, GEH is a nuclear alliance created by General Electric and Hitachi. In Japan, the alliance is Hitachi-GE Nuclear Energy.^[1] In November 2015, Jay Wileman was appointed CEO.^[2]

In 1955, the Atomic Power Equipment Department was established by GE. Two years later, in 1957, GE's first privately financed nuclear power reactor provided electricity for commercial use in Vallecitos, California. Additionally, in 1960, GE made and contributed to the Dresden Nuclear Power Station in Chicago. In the 1960s, it got involved in constructing and building the Boiling water reactor (BWR). The research into the project continued in the next 50 years resulting in production of 6 different BWR generations.^[3] In 1997, the GE-Hitachi U.S. Advanced boiling water reactor (ABWR) design was certified as a final design in final form by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.^[4]

GE and Hitachi officially established the GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy (GEH) global alliance in 2007 by combining parts of their respective power businesses. Based in Wilmington, North Carolina is creating and supplying BWRs and giving assistance with boiling water and pressurized water reactors. In Canada, the organization was known as GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy Canada and its purpose is to provide fuel and service nuclear power plants that operate on heavy water reactors made by Atomic Energy Canada.^[3] In 2016, GE and Hitachi sold GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy Canada to BWXT Canada Ltd. and renamed BWXT Nuclear Energy Canada^[5][6][7][8]

In 2005, GE Hitachi filed design certification by NRC for their Economic Simplified Boiling Water Reactor (ESBWR). The ESBWR received a positive Safety Evaluation Report^[9] and Final Design Approval^[10] on March 9, 2011. On June 7, 2011, the NRC completed its public comment period.^[11] Final rule was issued on September 16, 2014, after two outstanding problems with GE-Hitachi's modeling of loads on the steam dryer were solved.^[12][13] In 2013, following its purchase of Horizon Nuclear Power, Hitachi began the process of generic design assessment of the Hitachi-GE ABWR with the UK Office for Nuclear Regulation.^[14] The process was completed in December 2017.^[15] In January 2020, the company started the regulatory licensing process for the BWRX-300 with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.^[16]

Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) is undertaking preliminary licensing in collaboration with OPG. SaskPower is considering a deployment, and ORLEN Synthos Green Energy (OSGE) and partners is in pre-licensing in Poland. GEH has memoranda of understanding with companies in Canada, Poland, UK, US, and Sweden, among others, and has begun the licensing process in the UK.^[17]

In 2023, the company signed a contract with Ontario Power Generation (OPG), SNC-Lavalin, and Aecon to deploy a BWRX-300 small modular reactor (SMR) at OPG's Darlington New Nuclear Project site, the first contract for a North American grid-scale SMR.^[17]

The Advanced Boiling Water Reactor (ABWR) is the world's first operational Generation III Class advanced light water reactor design. The NRC has registered GEH's petition for renewal of ABWR certification.^[18] The Economic Simplified Boiling Water Reactor (ESBWR), the Generation III+ Class design reactor, received a positive final safety evaluation report and final design approval in March 2011, and is expected to receive a license from the NRC by September 2011.^{[needs update][19][20]}

GEH's Power Reactor Innovative Small Modular (PRISM) is a Generation IV reactor that uses liquid sodium as a coolant. In 2020 GEH partnered with TerraPower to develop a Natrium reactor.^[21]

In 2018, GEH agreed to collaborate with Holtec International on the commercialization of the Holtec SMR-160, a 160 MWe pressurized water reactor (PWR) small modular reactor.^[22]

As nuclear plants get older and worldwide demand for energy increases, GEH offers services for adapting plant performance and power output as well as maintenance for extending plant life.

GEH also offers services in many other areas, including:^[23]

• Outage Services
• General Plant Upgrades
• Inspections
• Virtual Reality Training simulators

Here are the list of GEH’s Power Plant offerings

Boiling Water Reactors

GE and Hitachi have developed the world’s safest Boiling Water Reactors (BWRs) over 60 years, with 40 reactors operating in 5 countries. BWRs and Pressurized Water Reactors (PWRs) both use light water as coolant and steam source, but BWRs generate steam directly in the reactor core, while PWRs use a secondary loop to produce steam.^[24]

Sodium Fast Reactors

GEH has over 70 years of experience in developing Sodium Fast Reactors (SFRs), offering greater fuel efficiency (4x) and higher electricity output (100x) than light water reactors (LWRs). SFRs help address the challenge of spent nuclear fuel by recycling uranium and transuranics, generating additional electricity while reducing long-term radiotoxicity. This innovative approach could provide a cleaner, more flexible energy solution for the future.^[25]

BWRX-300 small module reactor

GE Hitachi (GEH) has over 60 years of experience in designing, deploying, and servicing nuclear reactors, with 67 reactors licensed in 10 countries. They have produced over 165,000 BWR fuel bundles and hold over 6,660 patents. GEH is leading in small modular reactor (SMR) development, offering clean, reliable, and decarbonized power. Nuclear energy, like the BWRX-300, operates at higher capacity factors than renewables, providing consistent, safe, and efficient power, essential for energy security and achieving net-zero emissions.^[26]

GEH Fuel Manufacturing Sites (Worldwide)

GEH’s fuel cycle business supplies fuel products and services to customers around the world. GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy owns the Morris Operation—the only de facto high-level radioactive waste storage site in the United States.^[27]

Wilmington (New Hanover County, North Carolina, United States of America)

It was dedicated in 1969, and is known as the home to the global headquarters. Takes up more than 1,500 acres. Produces zirconium-calloy components, uranium dioxide powder and pellets, and fuel assemblies for boiling water reactor market.^[28]

Kurihama ( Yokosuka City, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan)

Established in 1970, it has helped Japanese consumers provide nuclear energy. Originally the area consisted of rural farmlands, but has developed into an industrial community, with the power plant becoming important to the economy in Yokosuka.^[28]

GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy (GEH) announced plans to expand its Wilmington operations, aiming to create roughly 500 new jobs over the next five years to support the deployment of its modular reactor, the BWRX-300. These reactors are planned to go around the world, including the U.K., Sweden, Czech Republic, Estonia, and Canada. GEH has already hired around 250 employees this year and expects these jobs to significantly impact the North Carolina economy while helping meet climate goals.^[29]

• Horizon Nuclear Power

• Guide to the GE Nuclear Energy Standard Safety Analysis Reports 1994