The small modular reactor BWRX-300 has received the first construction permit of its kind in the US. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) issued it to Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) for the Clinch River site near Oak Ridge in Tennessee. TVA is thus the first American operator with a permit to build a reactor from GE Vernova Hitachi. According to TechSpot, this is the second construction permit for a commercial advanced reactor in the country.
The reactor is to generate 300 megawatts of electricity. The NRC reviewed the application for 14 months, four months ahead of the planned deadline. "This construction permit is more than a regulatory achievement - it's foundational for America's nuclear future," said TVA interim president Mike Skaggs.
First Small Modular Reactor in the US: Construction Permit Alone Is Not Enough
The permit authorizes construction only. Before TVA can load fuel into the reactor and start generating electricity, it needs a separate operating license from the NRC. The company has not announced a start date for construction or a final cost estimate. According to TechSpot, it is considering up to four BWRX-300 units at the Clinch River site.
How the BWRX-300 Works
The reactor is based on boiling water reactor technology, with water driven by natural circulation as the coolant. The design relies on passive safety features using gravity, pressure, and water supplies. According to trendingtopics.eu, the plant fits on an area the size of two football fields, and for serially built units, the construction time is estimated at 24 to 36 months.
Canada, Texas, and Data Centers
Ontario Power Generation is building a series of BWRX-300 reactors in Canada and has already completed the foundation of the first unit at the Darlington site. Blue Energy has applied for a permit to build these reactors in Texas to power data centers.
According to a study by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, data centers could consume around 12 percent of US electricity in 2030, up from 4.4 percent in 2023. "We are projecting data center growth to double in our region by 2030," said former TVA head Don Moul.
According to trendingtopics.eu, the US Department of Energy supports the Clinch River project with 400 million dollars. In March, Bill Gates' TerraPower received a permit for the sodium-cooled Natrium reactor in Wyoming. The two most recent reactors at the Vogtle plant in Georgia cost about 35 billion dollars and went into operation years behind schedule. TVA is negotiating cost sharing and plans commercial operation for the early 2030s.