Westinghouse AP300 Approved For GDA Application In The UK

Westinghouse Electric Company (ENS Corporate Member) announced it has received formal approval from the UK Department of Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) to enter the Generic Design Assessment (GDA) for the AP300 Small Modular Reactor (SMR).

The GDA process allows UK regulators to assess the standards of safety, security and environmental protection of new nuclear power plant designs.

This is the first of the two-step process that will initiate work with the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR), the Environment Agency and where applicable Natural Resources Wales.

This GDA application approval comes after the AP300 SMR was selected for the current phase of Great British Nuclear in October and selected by Community Nuclear Power, Ltd. (CNP) to build four AP300 SMRs in Northeast England.

Read the full Westinghouse Press Release.

The AP300 small modular reactor (SMR) is a 300-MWe single-loop pressurized water reactor that was unveiled by Westinghouse in May 2023.

It will utilise identical AP1000 technology, to include major equipment, structural components, passive safety, proven fuel, and I&C systems.

This technology has previously received regulatory approval in Great Britain, the US and China, as well as compliance with European Utility Requirements (EUR) standards for nuclear power plants.