Blue Energy and GE Hitachi Advance 2.5 GW Gas-Nuclear Project in Texas

en.Wedoany.com Reported - On August 13, U.S.-based Blue Energy signed an agreement with GE Vernova Hitachi Nuclear Energy to launch the next phase of the 2.5 GW natural gas and nuclear integrated project in Victoria, Texas. The agreement covers engineering design, nuclear safety analysis, and licensing preparation, with a final investment decision targeted for 2027.

The project will be developed in phases, combining natural gas power generation and small modular nuclear facilities. Phase one will feature two GE Vernova 7HA.02 gas turbines with a combined capacity of approximately 1 GW, with equipment delivery scheduled for 2029 and power supply to nearby data center campuses beginning in 2030.

Phase two plans to build up to five BWRX-300 small modular reactors, totaling approximately 1.5 GW of capacity, with units expected to enter service progressively starting in 2032. The BWRX-300 is a 300 MW boiling water reactor developed by the nuclear joint venture between GE Vernova and Hitachi. The first unit of this reactor design is currently under construction at the Darlington nuclear plant in Canada.

Blue Energy and GE Vernova announced their collaboration on the project in May 2026 and signed a capacity reservation agreement for the two 7HA.02 gas turbines. This new agreement advances the project to the engineering design, site technical studies, and nuclear safety analysis phase, providing the technical foundation for Blue Energy's planned construction permit application to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission in 2027.

Blue Energy plans to adopt a construction model combining factory prefabrication, modular transport, and on-site assembly, with certain non-nuclear and non-safety-related facilities manufactured and installed in advance. With the gas turbines entering service first, they can supply power to data centers during the licensing and construction period of the small modular reactors, followed by the addition of stable baseload power from the nuclear units. The project's implementation as planned remains subject to licensing approvals and the final investment decision in 2027.