BWRX-300 to be considered for deployment in Bulgaria

The BWRX-300 is a 300 MWe water-cooled, natural circulation SMR with passive safety systems that leverages the design and licensing basis of GE Vernova Hitachi Nuclear Energy's (GVH's) US Nuclear Regulatory Commission-certified ESBWR boiling water reactor design and its existing, licensed GNF2 fuel design. GVH's first BWRX-300 is under construction at Ontario Power Generation's Darlington site in Canada, with completion expected by the end of the decade.

The new joint venture proposed by Blue Bird Energy and Synthos Green Energy (SGE) will work in Bulgaria to: select and prepare deployment sites; facilitate site and design licensing; manage construction and project development; coordinate project funding; and ensure safe, reliable, and efficient commercial operation.

"Partnering with Blue Bird Energy will strengthen our European SMR development platform and help us deliver affordable energy that meets the needs of the Bulgarian people," said SGE CEO Rafał Kasprów. "With today's announcement, Bulgaria joins the US, Canada, Poland, Hungary, and others who are in the process of deploying this world-leading US technology. We are confident that the Bulgarian economy will benefit from low-cost, reliable, baseload energy. Additionally, Bulgarian companies will play a significant role in the global BWRX-300 supply chain."

Kalin Peshov, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Blue Bird Energy, added: "We are excited to partner with energy frontrunners such as GVH and SGE. The 65 years of nuclear experience of GVH and the proven track record of SGE bringing the BWRX-300 technology to Europe would be invaluable in supporting our mission to provide Bulgaria with a secure long-term energy supply."

The main shareholders in Blue Bird Energy are two of the leading Bulgarian industrial corporations – Glavbolgarstroy (GBS) and Asarel-Medet JSC. GBS, founded in 1969, is the largest and most established construction and engineering group in Bulgaria and a major player on the South-Eastern European construction market. Asarel-Medet JSC is Bulgaria's biggest copper mining and processing company, focused on open-pit mining and ore processing.

In December 2021 GE Hitachi, BWXT Canada and SGE - part of the Synthos Group - signed a Letter of Intent to cooperate in deploying BWRX-300 SMRs in Poland. ORLEN Synthos Green Energy (OSGE) - a joint venture between chemical producers SGE and PKN Orlen - plans to deploy a fleet of 24 BWRX-300 reactors in Poland. It has begun development at three separate sites and aims to complete the first unit by 2032.

SGE plans to expand its SMR business to Central and Eastern Europe, including the Czech Republic, Hungary, Lithuania, Bulgaria and Romania.