GE Vernova Hitachi and Velan sign valve supply agreement for BWRX-300 small modular reactors in Europe
AI-madeGE Vernova Hitachi Nuclear Energy and Canadian valve manufacturer Velan signed a collaboration agreement in Paris on June 17, 2026, to explore supplying critical reactor valves for BWRX-300 small modular reactor projects across Europe. Ontario’s Minister of Energy and Mines, Stephen Lecce, was there for the signing. The deal covers reactor integral isolation valves and containment isolation valves—components that control coolant flow and keep reactors running safely.
Agreement signed in Paris to cover critical valve supply
The June 17 announcement formalized a collaboration that had already been taking shape through real project work. Under the deal, Velan will explore opportunities to supply two valve types central to nuclear safety: Reactor Integral Isolation Valves (RIIV) and Containment Isolation Valves (CIV).
These aren’t peripheral parts. They control coolant flow, support safe reactor operation, and contribute to long-term plant reliability — which is exactly why nuclear valve supply chains demand specialized engineering and tight quality standards.
Agreements like this one are how supply chains get built before construction starts — locking in proven partners while there’s still time to plan properly.
The signing took place at GE Vernova’s Paris offices. Minister Lecce’s attendance wasn’t purely ceremonial—it signals how directly Ontario’s government has tied its energy strategy to building a nuclear supply chain capable of competing globally and how closely the province is tracking where that chain leads. By putting a framework around what was already underway through shared project work, the agreement gives both companies something concrete to plan against as European SMR opportunities move closer to reality.
Darlington project experience underpins the partnership
This agreement doesn’t start from zero. Both GE Vernova Hitachi Nuclear Energy (GVH) and Velan are already working together at the Darlington New Nuclear Project (DNNP) in Ontario, and that shared experience is the foundation everything else is built on.
Darlington matters well beyond its local context. Ontario Power Generation is deploying the BWRX-300 there, making it the first commercial-scale SMR under construction in the western world — a real proving ground, not a pilot or a simulation. Velan brings more than 70 years of nuclear manufacturing expertise to that work, and the valve package represents some of the most critical equipment inside a nuclear plant, demanding precision that takes decades to develop.
GVH’s intent is clear: carry proven suppliers from Darlington into its international pipeline. When you’re deploying a reactor design across multiple markets, a supplier that already knows the hardware — and has built it under real construction conditions — cuts risk considerably. That’s the depth of experience GVH wants behind its European projects.
European SMR pipeline drives demand, with Poland as lead market
Europe is where the near-term opportunity sits. Countries across the region are rethinking their energy strategies, pushed by security concerns, rising electricity demand, and decarbonization targets. GVH is actively pursuing SMR opportunities in several European markets, with Poland as the most concrete example.
GVH and Orlen Synthos Green Energy (OSGE) are already running site-specific engineering and development work to support deployment of at least 24 BWRX-300 units in Poland. That’s a serious pipeline — one that needs a supply chain capable of scaling with it. The BWRX-300 is a 300-megawatt reactor designed to deliver reliable, carbon-free electricity, and at 24 units, the Polish program alone represents a procurement challenge that can’t be improvised.
Suppliers need to be identified, qualified, and integrated into project timelines well before construction begins. GVH’s approach is to maximize local participation in each market while drawing on proven suppliers from projects already underway—exactly the role Velan is positioned to fill. A qualified partner that can move from one deployment to the next without starting from scratch each time is worth a great deal in a program of this scale.
Ontario positions its nuclear supply chain for global export
Ontario’s involvement in the Paris signing reflects a deliberate industrial strategy, not just energy policy. The province invested in the Darlington project with a specific goal: build a supply chain capable of competing globally, then export that advantage.
Minister Lecce framed it directly. When Ontario committed to building the western world’s first SMR, the objective was a first-mover advantage for workers, industry, and the broader supply chain. This agreement is part of collecting on that bet. The numbers are hard to ignore — Ontario cites projections of more than $600 billion in global SMR investment expected over the coming decades, and positioning Ontario-based manufacturers like Velan to supply European projects puts Canadian workers and companies in line for a meaningful share of that market.
GVH’s fleet-deployment model reinforces this logic. Lessons learned at Darlington — about design, construction, and supply chain coordination — get applied forward to subsequent projects, and Ontario-based suppliers that prove themselves on the first deployment are better positioned for every one that follows.
Building first creates export opportunities
The GVH-Velan collaboration agreement is as much a supply chain story as a technology story. It connects an active construction project in Ontario to a growing pipeline of European SMR deployments, using Darlington as the credibility anchor.
For Velan, the deal extends over seven decades of nuclear manufacturing expertise into new geography. For GVH, it reinforces a fleet deployment approach—taking what works on early projects and carrying it forward. For Ontario, it backs up the argument that building first creates real export opportunities, not just domestic ones.
The BWRX-300’s European prospects, especially in Poland, are still developing. Agreements like this one are how supply chains get built before construction starts — locking in proven partners while there’s still time to plan properly. With more than $600 billion in projected global SMR investment on the horizon, the groundwork being laid now will likely determine who captures a meaningful share of it.
Kelly is an experienced writer with 15 years of experience exploring the big stories that shape our world, from tech breakthroughs and space exploration to climate, energy, and the fascinating quirks of science. She has a talent for turning complex ideas into sharp, memorable insights that stay with readers long after they’ve finished reading.
