Blue Energy, GE Vernova plan “gas-plus-nuclear” power plant in Texas

GE Vernova has formed a strategic collaboration with nuclear project financing and manufacturing firm Blue Energy to "advance the world's first gas-plus-nuclear power plant." The companies say that they intend to design and develop a power plant using GE Vernova Hitachi Nuclear Energy BWRX-300 small modular reactors and GE Vernova gas turbines to meet electricity demands related to AI and advanced manufacturing. Subject to a final investment decision in 2027, the first plant is to be located at a Blue Energy site in Texas and will power a nearby data center campus.

The companies also have signed a slot reservation agreement for delivery to the Texas site of two GE Vernova 7HA.02 gas turbines in 2029 for "early site energization."

Eric Gray, CEO of GE Vernova's Power Segment, said, "Combining our industry-leading HA gas turbines with the BWRX-300, the only small modular nuclear reactor under construction in the Western world today, provides an effective solution aimed to meet the demands of rapid AI expansion in the United States while decreasing time to power."

GE Vernova and Blue Energy are also exploring methods for contracting and off-site construction of "large power plant modules consistent with GVH's BWRX-300 design" to reduce capital costs and accelerate off-site prefabrication supply chains.

Resequencing construction: Last December, Blue Energy reported that the Nuclear Regulatory Commission had approved the company's licensing topical report on an approach to "resequencing" the phases of nuclear plant construction. Under its model, Blue Energy separates construction of the nuclear and nonnuclear portions of the plant, beginning with off-site fabrication and on-site installation of the nonnuclear, "non-safety-significant" infrastructure. This approach enables fabrication and site energization to begin while the nuclear components continue through their licensing and construction phases.

Blue Energy claims that its approach can accelerate deployment of new nuclear power plants by trimming at least five years off the conventional nuclear timeline and "slashing time to power to 48 months or less with a natural gas bridge to gigawatts of nuclear power."

Quotes: Blue Energy cofounder and CEO Jake Jurewicz said, "Blue Energy and GE Vernova can unlock a blueprint for how to scale nuclear energy, power American communities, and fuel global AI leadership faster, more affordably, and without burdening ratepayers."

GE Vernova CEO Scott Strazik said, "Innovative projects like this one will help advance the future of nuclear power and meet the surging demand for electricity. . . . We are proud that our collaboration with Blue Energy and others in the entrepreneurial community will play an increasingly important role in accelerating America's next era of energy leadership."

Target dates: Blue Energy and GE Vernova anticipate a further agreement to perform preliminary safety analysis work at the Texas site, in addition to conducting the development and characterization work necessary to support a nuclear construction permit application that Blue Energy expects to file with the NRC in 2027.

Blue Energy expects GE Vernova gas turbines to provide about 1 GW of power "as early as 2030." The steam supply would then be switched and ramped up to provide about 1.5 GW of nuclear power as the BWRX-300s come on line "as early as 2032."