Swedish nuclear technology company Studsvik has announced the selection of GE Vernova Hitachi Nuclear Energy and Samsung C&T as strategic partners for a four-unit small modular reactor project in Sweden, marking what the company described as a major milestone in its efforts to bring new nuclear generating capacity to the country.

The partnership, formed under Studsvik's ReFirm programme, is targeting the development of up to 1.2 gigawatts of new nuclear power using GE Vernova Hitachi's BWRX-300 reactor design.

The first unit is expected to enter operation in the mid-2030s. GE Vernova Financial Services and DS Investment Partners are also part of the project consortium, contributing financial backing alongside the engineering and construction expertise of the named strategic partners.

A Competitive Selection Process

Studsvik stated that the selection of GE Vernova, Hitachi Nuclear Energy and Samsung C&T followed a competitive evaluation process, though the company did not disclose further details about the other candidates considered or the criteria applied.

The announcement was made on September 3, 2026, and was accompanied by a media briefing in Stockholm at 10:00 CET and a separate investor briefing scheduled for 13:00 CET on the same day.

The ReFirm programme represents Studsvik's vehicle for advancing new nuclear construction in Sweden, a country that has seen renewed political and industrial interest in nuclear energy as it seeks to secure long-term electricity supply.

The initial project scope encompasses four reactor units, each based on the BWRX-300 design, which is a boiling water small modular reactor developed by GE Vernova Hitachi Nuclear Energy.

Partners Bring Engineering, Construction and Financial Capabilities

The consortium assembled for the ReFirm programme combines several distinct areas of expertise. GE Vernova Hitachi Nuclear Energy brings the reactor technology itself in the form of the BWRX-300, a design that has attracted interest in multiple countries as nuclear operators and governments look for scalable and potentially lower-cost alternatives to large conventional reactors.

Samsung C&T, the South Korean engineering and construction conglomerate, contributes large-scale construction capability to the partnership. The company has an established track record in major infrastructure and energy projects internationally, and its involvement is intended to provide the project with the construction management and execution capacity required for a multi-unit nuclear build programme.

GE Vernova Financial Services and DS Investment Partners round out the consortium on the financial side, providing the capital structure and investment support that a project of this scale and duration requires. Studsvik did not disclose the financial terms of the arrangements or the total projected capital expenditure for the programme.

Sweden's Nuclear Ambitions and the Scale of the Project

Karl Thedéen, President and CEO of Studsvik, framed the project in terms that went beyond the immediate construction scope. In a statement accompanying the announcement, Thedéen said: "One reactor is a project. Four is the start of an industry."

The comment reflects the broader ambition embedded in the ReFirm programme, which positions the initial four-unit development not merely as a standalone energy infrastructure investment but as a foundation for a renewed Swedish nuclear industry.

Sweden operated a significant nuclear fleet for decades before beginning a phase-down in the early 2000s, though several reactors have continued to operate.

The country has in recent years seen a policy shift toward welcoming new nuclear construction as part of its energy mix, driven by concerns over electricity supply security and the demands of electrification across industry and transport.

The BWRX-300 design, with each unit rated at approximately 300 megawatts of electrical output, allows the four-unit project to reach the 1.2 gigawatt total capacity figure cited by Studsvik.

That scale is comparable to a single large conventional nuclear plant and represents a substantial addition to Sweden's generating base if the project proceeds on its stated timeline.

Studsvik's Role and Background

Studsvik is a Swedish company with deep roots in nuclear technology, operating across areas including decommissioning and radiation protection services, fuel and materials technology, waste management, and nuclear simulation software.

The company also operates the Studsvik Tech Park and has subsidiaries and operations in multiple countries, including Germany, the United States, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, and Japan.

The company's involvement in new nuclear power generation through the ReFirm programme represents an extension of its existing nuclear technology portfolio into the development and enabling of new reactor projects. Studsvik indicated that more details about the programme and the partnership would be shared at the September 3 briefings in Stockholm.

The announcement follows a series of earlier milestones and statements from Studsvik related to its nuclear ambitions. The company had previously sought state support for new nuclear development and secured approval from the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission for activities related to its operations, according to earlier items listed in its news archive.

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