Advanced reactor concepts often appear to be the simplest part at the outset. Early work focuses on design, before timelines are defined and implementation challenges emerge. The harder work begins when technologies must be adapted to real‑world conditions—local regulations, permitting pathways, and engineering trade‑offs—where the relationships formed can prove as important as the reactor itself.
Why SMR deployment requires regional engineering depth
Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) are described by AFRY as “a new generation of flexible, low-carbon nuclear energy technologies.” However, AFRY also acknowledges that, although modularized reactors offer enhanced construction efficiency over their larger counterparts, “new nuclear power projects remain highly complex.”
That complexity creates a practical need for cross‑sector collaboration and shared expertise to ensure success and deliver “commercially smart solutions that benefit both license‑holders and suppliers.” AFRY does not suggest modularity eliminates risk; rather, it shifts the burden to execution, where engineering choices, project interfaces, and delivery schedules must align with national conditions.
Furthermore, AFRY draws attention to a reality unique to Europe: When global reactor manufacturers are established in Sweden and Europe, “regional experts are essential to adapt and optimize projects to fit national conditions.” This represents the area of SMR development that cannot be addressed solely through technology — local adaptation, regulatory compliance, and the practical engineering required to create a repeatable program in a market.
What AFRY contributes to the deployment and licensing process
The collaboration AFRY describes is based upon engineering and advisory capacity and not upon reactor ownership. According to the agreement, AFRY will provide engineering and advisory services “on the basis of its longstanding and deep sector expertise as well as its extensive European footprint.”
In addition to performing engineering functions, AFRY will also assist GE Vernova Hitachi in obtaining a license from the Swedish Radiation Safety Authority for the BWRX-300. Support in the licensing process is important since it provides a link between design intention and what regulators require to evaluate, establishing a connection between technical delivery and national regulatory pathways.
Also noted is that they have “18,000 experts worldwide,” combining global scope with localized insights and considerable sector knowledge. Practically speaking, it is this combination of localized expertise along with cross-border experience that AFRY presents as being particularly applicable to deploying SMR technology in Sweden and throughout Europe.
Collaboration agreement and its implications
According to AFRY’s announcement, AFRY has signed a non‑exclusive collaborative arrangement with GE Vernova Hitachi Nuclear Energy to support the commercialization of the BWRX‑300 SMR technology. GE Vernova Hitachi CEO Jason Cooper identifies this arrangement as part of creating “a robust Swedish and European industrial ecosystem around the BWRX‑300,” highlighting long‑term collaboration, local capability development, and regional benefits.
Mr. Cooper further notes that Sweden possesses a “robust industrial base and world-class engineering capabilities”, stating that by partnering with AFRY, he believes this strengthens his ability to successfully deploy the BWRX-300 technology while allowing local industries to play a significant role in Europe’s ongoing energy transition.
Elon Hägg (Executive Vice President and Head of Global Division Energy), from AFRY, connects the partnership to a goal of making Sweden a “key hub in the future SMR value chain” and advancing Sweden’s nuclear power program. Mr. Hägg also indicates that the partnership allows for connecting local expertise with international reach, supporting the delivery of reliable low-carbon energy solutions throughout Europe.
Together, these announcements indicate that the partnership serves as a means for enabling execution by linking the reactor supplier’s deployment plans with the regional engineering partner’s capacity to support licensing and local adaptation. In doing so, deployment is not only conceived but also engineered to fit the conditions under which it will be constructed.
