en.Wedoany.com Reported - Poland's SGE (a company under Michał Sołowow) plans to invest approximately £35 billion to build 14 small modular reactors at three sites in the UK, using GE Vernova Hitachi's BWRX-300 reactor design, with the first reactor targeting power generation by 2034.
Founded in 2019, SGE has submitted a proposal under the UK's Advanced Nuclear Framework. These reactors will have a total generation capacity of 4.2 GW, enough to meet the electricity needs of approximately 8 million households, accounting for about 11% of the UK's electricity demand.
Each BWRX-300 reactor is designed to generate approximately 300 MW of electricity, significantly smaller than traditional large-scale nuclear plants, with a design operational life of at least 60 years. SGE's delivery team includes GE Vernova Hitachi, Samsung C&T, and Laing O'Rourke.
Small modular reactors are designed to be manufactured through repeatable factory-based processes, which proponents argue can reduce construction costs and shorten development timelines compared to custom-built nuclear plants. This proposal comes amid expectations of growing electricity demand driven by the proliferation of AI data centers, electric vehicles, and heat pumps. Governments are also seeking reliable generation capacity to complement intermittent renewable energy sources.
However, financing remains a core challenge. Each 300 MW reactor is estimated to cost between £2.2 billion and £2.5 billion. SGE proposes a private financing model but is seeking Contracts for Difference and government-backed electricity prices, while also exploring cooperation with the UK's National Wealth Fund. Under its proposed model, consumers would not need to fund the project before the reactors begin operation.
Small modular reactor technology has not yet been fully validated at a commercial scale, and no BWRX-300 units are currently in operation. The nuclear industry has a history of project delays and cost overruns, creating uncertainty for SGE's target of generating power by 2034. If completed, the project would make SGE one of the UK's largest new electricity infrastructure investors, while supporting the growing electricity demand from digital infrastructure and electrification.
