Sweden’s 1.2 GW BWRX‑300 SMR Initiative Moves Toward Mid‑2030s

Sweden may soon see a fresh wave of nuclear capacity, not from a monolithic plant, but from a quartet of compact reactors that together could generate about 1.2 GW of electricity. The plan, tucked under the umbrella of the ReFirm programme, hinges on the BWRX‑300 – a 300‑MW boiling‑water SMR that promises a simpler, potentially cheaper design than today’s behemoth reactors.

Studsvik, the country’s long‑standing nuclear specialist, has teamed up with GE Vernova Hitachi Nuclear Energy and South‑Korean construction giant Samsung C&T. Together they will explore two possible locations – the licensed site at Nyköping, already home to a nuclear facility, or a fresh plot at Valdemarsvik, where an application was lodged earlier this year.

The rationale behind building four units at once is deliberately pragmatic. Rather than treating each reactor as a stand‑alone venture, the partners intend to use this first four‑unit “pilot‑fleet” as a template. Lessons learned on cost, schedule and construction techniques can then be replicated, ideally shaving years off future builds and cultivating a Swedish supply chain that spans engineering, procurement, construction and long‑term operations.

Each BWRX‑300 module follows a boiled‑water design that, on paper, is less complex than the pressurised‑water giants that dominate today’s nuclear landscape. GE Vernova Hitachi says the know‑how gleaned from Canada’s Darlington New Nuclear Project is feeding directly into the SMR’s final design, pushing it a step closer to commercial readiness.

In practice, the three parties have carved out clear responsibilities. Studsvik will shepherd permitting, environmental reviews and community outreach, while GE Vernova Hitachi takes charge of reactor design, licensing support and cost modelling. Samsung C&T brings heavy‑lifting construction expertise to the table.

Financing, of course, remains a work‑in‑progress. A joint venture will be set up to own and operate the plants, with DS Investment Partners handling investment activities during an exclusivity window and GE Vernova Financial Services advising on the financial structure. Sweden’s 2026 nuclear legislation now permits new reactors outside the three historic sites, provided the government signs off, and a state‑backed financing framework – featuring loans and contracts‑for‑difference – is ready to underwrite projects like this.

If everything clicks – approvals, financing and a green light on construction – the first BWRX‑300 could be feeding power into the grid by the mid‑2030s. That would mark Sweden’s first new nuclear generation in decades, a milestone that could ripple across Europe as other nations watch the SMR experiment unfold.

In the words of a project spokesperson, “One reactor is a project. Four is the start of an industry.” It’s a modest, perhaps slightly optimistic, slogan, but it captures the ambition: to turn Sweden’s energy goals into a tangible, near‑future reality.