Small Modular Reactors Targeted for Southeast Asia
GE Vernova eyes Singapore and the Philippines for BWRX-300 deployment as gas turbine supply chains face five-year delays.
Updated on Oct. 26, 2026 in Nuclear
Live Poll
Do you support the integration of small modular nuclear reactors into your regional power grid?
GE Vernova has identified Singapore and the Philippines as primary target markets for its BWRX-300 small modular reactor (SMR). The initiative aims to integrate carbon-free nuclear power into the Asean Power Grid as the company seeks to expand beyond its current gas turbine manufacturing base.
Why it matters
As traditional gas turbine delivery lead times stretch to five years, SMRs offer a scalable alternative to meet Southeast Asia's growing energy demand. The deployment is bolstered by regional regulatory support and a shift toward factory-based component manufacturing to ensure deployment repeatability.
The BWRX-300 SMR is designed with a smaller physical footprint and smaller exclusion zones than traditional plants. These units are produced in factories to standardize components, a departure from current energy hardware that faces five-year delivery backlogs.
The players
GE Vernova
An energy company specializing in gas turbines and nuclear reactor technology through its joint venture with Hitachi.
Ontario Power Generation
A provincial utility currently managing the construction of four BWRX-300 units in Canada.
The details
The BWRX-300 is a modular fission reactor designed by a GE Vernova and Hitachi joint venture. By manufacturing components in controlled factory settings, the system aims to reduce dependence on specialized onsite labor, which typically slows traditional plant construction. This approach allows for faster assembly while requiring less land than the large-scale containment structures of conventional nuclear facilities.
Timeline
March 2026: GE Vernova and Hitachi signed a commercial deployment agreement.
October 26, 2026: CEO Eric Gray discussed SMR strategies at SIEW.
End of 2026: GE Vernova targets 20 GW annual gas turbine output.
2028: GE Vernova targets 24 GW annual gas turbine output.
2030: GE Vernova targets 30 GW annual gas turbine output.
The Tech Race
Currently, Russia and China are the only nations operating SMRs. The planned expansion in Southeast Asia follows the precedent set by Ontario Power Generation, which began construction on the first BWRX-300 units in 2025.
Southeast Asian energy markets are the initial focus for this modular technology, which could eventually reduce regional reliance on long-lead gas turbines. Commercial operations for current BWRX-300 projects are not expected until the early 2030s.
The takeaway
SMRs represent a shift toward factory-manufactured nuclear power, intended to bypass the multi-year delays currently plaguing gas turbine deployment. Watch for the commercial operational launch of the Ontario-based BWRX-300 units in the early 2030s to gauge the feasibility of the technology at scale.
Further reading
For broader trends in reactor development, see our Nuclear section.
Live Poll
Do you support the integration of small modular nuclear reactors into your regional power grid?
