Tennessee Valley Authority receives US permit for BWRX-300 reactor

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has issued a construction permit to the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) for a small modular reactor (SMR) at the Clinch River site in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. The project will utilize the BWRX-300 design, developed by GE Vernova Hitachi Nuclear Energy. This marks the first time the NRC has approved the construction of this specific reactor type in the United States.

The 300-megawatt reactor is intended to meet rising electricity demands driven by industrial growth, data centers, and AI development. The NRC completed its safety review in 14 months, which was four months ahead of its projected schedule. NRC Chairman Ho K. Nieh stated that the decision demonstrates the agency’s ability to make “rigorous and credible safety decisions that enable major American nuclear projects to move forward.”

While the permit allows for construction, it does not authorize fuel loading or power generation; the TVA must obtain a separate operating license before the plant becomes functional. The project aims for a construction completion window between October 2031 and September 2032. The TVA is currently negotiating cost-sharing agreements with industrial partners to manage the financial responsibilities of this first-of-a-kind technology.