TVA has taken an exciting step toward pioneering small modular reactors in the U.S.

As the United States works to expand its next-generation nuclear capabilities, the first utility-led small modular reactor project has entered formal review, with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission docketing the Tennessee Valley Authority's construction permit application for a GE Hitachi BWRX-300 reactor at its Clinch River site in Tennessee.

Developed to provide carbon-free electricity at reduced scale, small modular reactors (SMR) represent a newer class of advanced nuclear technologies engineered for faster deployment, simplified safety systems, and smaller physical footprints.

Positioned to support long-term grid flexibility, industrial demand, national energy goals, and remote energy access, these compact reactors have drawn increased federal, regulatory, and utility attention in recent years.

Within this new generation of nuclear systems, multiple designs are under development to meet varying energy needs and deployment models, including smaller microreactors and larger grid-scale units.

Among the more advanced and commercially positioned is the BWRX-300, a 300-megawatt SMR developed by GE Vernova Hitachi Nuclear Energy, a joint venture formed by GE Vernova and Hitachi to combine their respective nuclear power operations.

Following years of design development and regulatory alignment, the BWRX-300 has become the first boiling water SMR to enter formal licensing review in the U.S.

In late May, a construction permit application was submitted by the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), the nation's largest public power utility and operator of one of its most extensive nuclear fleets, for the potential deployment of an SMR at its Clinch River site in eastern Tennessee.

After an initial review to verify the completeness of the application, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission accepted the project for detailed evaluation in July, placing it on the agency's public docket and initiating the first phase of its formal licensing process.

"This is an exciting step to bringing the nation's first utility-led SMR online," said TVA President and CEO Don Moul. "As the first utility in the United States to have a construction permit application under review by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission for the BWRX-300 reactor, this will create a path for other utilities to deploy the reactor – ensuring energy security and reliable electricity for all."

Approved in 2019, TVA's early site permit for Clinch River marked the first such authorization issued by NRC for an SMR, clearing the location through the environmental and emergency planning stages of the licensing process.

That prior groundwork enabled TVA to pursue construction approval with a narrowed focus on reactor design and safety-related criteria.

Preliminary site preparation at Clinch River could begin as early as next year, pending review outcomes and internal milestones. If advanced to full licensing, the project would represent one of the first commercial-scale SMRs developed by a U.S. utility – with implications for wider deployment across the country.