Estonia Plans 600-MW Nuclear Power Plant Utilizing BWRX-300 SMRs

Government officials in Estonia announced the country will initiate a spatial planning process and an environmental impact assessment for construction of the country’s first nuclear power plant.

The May 22 announcement confirms the government’s January proposal to build a nuclear power facility. Fermi Energia, an Estonia energy company focused on developing and deploying small modular reactors (SMRs), on Thursday confirmed that a 600-MW nuclear power plant, which would feature two GE Hitachi BWRX-300 SMRs, will be built as part of the country’s commitment to energy security and climate goals.

“The Estonian government’s approval to begin planning for a 600-MW nuclear power plant, following Fermi Energia’s proposal using GE Hitachi’s BWRX-300 small modular reactor technology, represents a significant step forward in Estonia’s nuclear energy development,” said Fermi Energia CEO Kalev Kallemets. “While planning and environmental impact assessments have historically been contentious issues in Estonia, Fermi Energia’s extensive community outreach and the trust established with local municipalities—whose councils have already voted to support nuclear plant siting—provides reason for confidence that the planning process will proceed successfully.”

Fermi Energia since 2019 has conducted more than 50 public meetings across the region that would likely be home to the nuclear power plant. Officials on Thursday said those meetings have engaged residents in 15 towns. The company also said formal participation agreements have been reached with municipal councils from Viru-Nigula and Lüganuse.

Officials said national polls focused on opinions about nuclear power in Estonia show nearly 70% of respondents support introducing nuclear power to the country. Fermi Energia said the proposal to initiate planning of the nuclear plant is supported by 71 comprehensive studies, carried out in collaboration with 32 international and domestic organizations.

Three-Phase Process

The planning process is structured into three phases. Between now and 2027, a site pre-selection phase will focus on areas near Kunda in Viru-Nigula County, and the village of Aa in Lüganuse County. This phase “will evaluate each location’s strategic access to existing infrastructure, alongside the environmental impact assessment, to identify the most viable and sustainable options for development,” according to Fermi Energia.

Fermi Energia has successfully closed a €2.3 million ($2.6 million) funding round with participation from both existing and new investors. The capital will be used to finance the initial phase of Estonia’s national special planning process, specifically the site pre-selection studies.

The process in 2027 will advance to detailed site confirmation. The phase will include in-depth studies covering geology, hydrology, environmental monitoring, and grid connectivity. Those studies will be conducted to ensure the selected site meets the stringent safety and performance standards required for deploying the BWRX-300 reactor, according to Fermi Energia.

Construction at the chosen site s planned to begin in 2029. Fermi Energia recently signed a teaming agreement with Samsung C&T, which is being considered as a prospective engineering, procurement, and construction contractor for the project.

—Darrell Proctor is a senior editor for POWER.