GE Alliance Waits for UK Nuclear Outcome

GE-Hitachi Nuclear Energy (CEH) says it hopes past experiences with reactors in Asia will help push its proposal into the assessment stage if the UK decides to go ahead with plans to build a new fleet of nuclear reactors.

The nuclear alliance business, which started this month with a focus on light and water reactor technologies, says it expects to know from the regulatory UK Joint Programme Office if it will be considered for the project in less than two weeks.

If approved, the generic design assessment of the plants is expected to take up to three and a half years – a similar process to that carried out by the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

GE-Hitachi has put forward the ESBWR model for the project – a global, standardised reactor the company says is capable of meeting a range of international regulatory requirements.

ESBWR is also known for having a lower capital construction cost, shorter construction schedule and reduced operating costs.

The reactors have already been installed in Asia, which the company says has allowed it to monitor its success and iron out any regulatory issues well before submitting its UK proposal.