Wedoany.com Report-Sept. 18, Estonia’s Fermi Energia has signed a teaming agreement with Canadian construction company Aecon to advance the development and deployment of GE Vernova Hitachi Nuclear Energy’s BWRX-300 small modular reactor (SMR) technology in Estonia. The collaboration provides a framework for Aecon and Fermi Energia to work together during the SMR development phase as the exclusive provider, aiming to build domestic nuclear capability based on Canadian experience to support BWRX-300 deployment in Estonia.

During the three-year agreement, the two companies will strategize, plan, and evaluate deployment paths for the BWRX-300. They will focus on pre-construction scheduling, cost planning, and development of a qualified reactor building deployment team, working alongside local and international partners.

Aecon brings experience from providing construction services, including project management, planning, and execution, for the Canadian deployment of the BWRX-300 at Ontario Power Generation’s Darlington site. That project is set to be the first commercial grid-scale SMR in North America, with operations expected to start by 2030.

Aaron Johnson, Senior Vice President of Aecon Nuclear, said: “We are proud to partner with Fermi Energia as Estonia advances its SMR programme in support of the energy transition. Aecon's experience working on the G7's first BWRX-300 in Canada gives us the unique position to bring our strong nuclear expertise and technical solutions to one of the most critical aspects of this new build programme, including advanced manufacturing, automation processes, lessons learned and best practices.”

Fermi Energia CEO Kalev Kallemets added: “This agreement builds on Aecon's proven experience and gives Estonia access to the world's most advanced SMR construction expertise. It is a significant step forward towards our goal of delivering safe, reliable, and carbon-free nuclear energy for Estonia's future.”

Fermi Energia, founded by Estonian energy and nuclear professionals, has been developing SMR deployment in Estonia. The company previously launched a feasibility study to assess SMRs’ suitability for Estonia’s electricity supply and climate goals beyond 2030. Following this, Fermi Energia selected GE Vernova Hitachi’s BWRX-300 SMR for potential deployment in the early 2030s. The reactor design is a 300 MWe water-cooled, natural circulation SMR with passive safety systems, leveraging the licensing and design basis of Hitachi’s ESBWR boiling water reactor.

Fermi Energia plans to submit a construction permit application for the proposed plant in 2029, with construction targeted to begin in 2031. The first of two SMRs is expected to be operational by the second half of 2035. This collaboration with Aecon aims to accelerate Estonia’s development of domestic nuclear expertise while advancing safe and carbon-free energy solutions for the country’s future.