The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) has selected Bechtel, Sargent & Lundy, and GE Hitachi (GEH) to begin planning and evaluation for the first small modular reactor (SMR) at TVA’s Clinch River Nuclear site in Oak Ridge, Tennessee.
Key Highlights
🔹 Partners Involved:
- TVA (Project Owner)
- Bechtel (Engineering & Construction)
- Sargent & Lundy (Site-Specific Design)
- GE Hitachi (BWRX-300 Reactor Technology)
🔹 Project Scope:
- Initial cost estimation & scheduling for a BWRX-300 SMR
- Potential multiple SMR units at the Clinch River site
- Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) Model for collaboration
🔹 Why It Matters:
- Reliable, carbon-free energy for growing electricity demand
- Faster, safer, and more cost-effective nuclear deployment
- Supports AI & tech industries’ power needs
- Advances the U.S. clean energy transition
Next Steps
✅ Validation Phase (1-2 years) – TVA, Bechtel, Sargent & Lundy, and GEH will finalize cost estimates and schedules.
✅ TVA Board Approval – Future decisions on full-scale construction.
This collaboration marks a major step in modern nuclear development, reinforcing America’s energy security and sustainability goals.
