Sweden: GE Hitachi interested in contributing to new nuclear power

The European division of US-based nuclear technology company GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy (GEH) has expressed interest in contributing to the development of new nuclear power in Sweden. Fredrik Vitabäck, European manager for market development at GEH, says that the company has the capacity and technology to deliver small-scale reactors of a new generation. The construction time and cost would be much lower than for conventional reactors, he claims. Construction times will range from 24 to 36 months according to Vitabäck. The reactor model is named BWRX-300, with an output of 300 MW. Furthermore, Swedish energy company Vattenfall has stated that the BWRX-300 model is of interest for the nuclear strategy in the company. The strategy includes at least two new reactors at Ringhals Nuclear Power Plant. Meanwhile, no units of the BWRX-300 has yet been built, and exact cost has not been revealed by GEH. Swedish company Kärnfull Next has entered into an agreement with GEH, and expects that a reactor of the model can be completed by 2030. Vitabäck says that this time frame is realistic.