Westinghouse, Hyundai to pursue AP1000 opportunities in Nordic countries

Westinghouse Electric Company announced today that it has signed a teaming agreement with Hyundai Engineering & Construction Company to pursue opportunities in Sweden and Finland for nuclear power plants based on Westinghouse's AP1000 reactor technology.

Under the agreement, Westinghouse will provide the design and development of its AP1000 technology, and Hyundai E&C will provide its industrial engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) services for the project. According to Westinghouse, the agreement builds on a 2022 strategic cooperation agreement between the two companies to jointly participate in global AP1000 plant opportunities.

The opportunities: In February Sweden's state-owned power company Vattenfall unveiled plans to initiate new nuclear power projects at the Ringhals nuclear power plant. According to Westinghouse, Vattenfall wants to have the first reactor operational in the early 2030s, with critical decisions regarding reactor types reached by the end of the year.

Westinghouse also signed a memorandum of understanding with Finnish power company Fortum in June 2023 to explore the potential and prerequisites for new nuclear plants in Finland and Sweden.

Quotables: "For more than half a century, Westinghouse has proudly supported Vattenfall in delivering clean, safe, and reliable energy from the Ringhals nuclear power plant, which is based on Westinghouse design," said Daniel S. Lipman, president of Westinghouse Energy Systems. "In partnership with Hyundai-a global, top-tier EPC company-we look forward to bringing our proven AP1000 technology with a proven nuclear power construction company to provide another 100 years of energy security to Sweden and Finland."

Young-Joon Yoon, chief executive officer and president of Hyundai E&C, added, "Hyundai E&C has accumulated unrivaled nuclear EPC competitiveness, technical capabilities, and know-how in operating construction management systems through the construction of 24 large-scale nuclear power plants in the global market. Based on the long-standing trust and partnership between Hyundai E&C and Westinghouse, which dates back to 1971, we will exert our best teamwork to maximize the synergies of both companies for success."

Global growth: In addition to the two AP1000 units operating at the Vogtle plant in Georgia, there are four operating AP1000 reactors operating in China, with an additional eight under construction. On August 29, Westinghouse announced that China approved the construction of four new nuclear reactors based on the AP1000 technology at two Chinese power plants.

The AP1000 has been selected for nuclear energy programs in Poland, Ukraine, and Bulgaria, and is also under consideration at other sites in Central and Eastern Europe, the United Kingdom, India, and North America. Westinghouse said there will 18 units based on AP1000 technology in operation globally by the end of the decade.

According to Westinghouse, the AP1000 pressurized water reactor is the only operating Generation III+ reactor with fully passive safety systems, modular construction design, and the smallest footprint per megawatt-electric on the market.