Key Takeaways
- Blue Energy and GE Vernova Hitachi Nuclear Energy (GVH) signed an agreement on August 13, 2026, launching the next phase of a 2.5-gigawatt gas-plus-nuclear power plant in Victoria, Texas.
- The agreement covers engineering design, licensing and safety analysis for up to five GVH BWRX-300 small modular reactors, expected to add about 1.5 gigawatts of nuclear capacity starting in 2032.
- Two GE Vernova 7HA.02 gas turbines are planned to supply roughly 1 gigawatt beginning in 2030, powering a nearby data center ahead of the nuclear buildout.
- The project still requires a final investment decision, expected in 2027.
- Blue Energy, founded in 2023 by a team with roots in MIT’s Nuclear Science and Engineering Department, builds financeable, prefabricated nuclear plants meant to cut deployment costs and timelines.
Blue Energy, GE Vernova Hitachi start next project phase
Blue Energy and GE Vernova Hitachi Nuclear Energy signed an agreement on August 13, 2026, that moves forward a 2.5-gigawatt power project in Victoria, Texas, combining a small modular reactor fleet with natural gas turbines to supply a nearby data center.
The new agreement directs engineering design, licensing and safety analysis work toward the nuclear portion of the project. Up to five GVH BWRX-300 reactors are planned for the site, adding about 1.5 gigawatts of capacity beginning in 2032. The project still needs a final investment decision, expected in 2027.
Gas turbines precede nuclear reactors at Texas site
Two GE Vernova 7HA.02 gas turbines are scheduled to come online first, supplying about 1 gigawatt starting in 2030 to meet near-term power demand at the site. The reactors are set to follow once licensing and engineering work clears, in 2032.
BWRX-300 reactors already under construction in Canada
The BWRX-300, GVH’s small modular reactor design, is currently being built at Ontario Power Generation’s Darlington site in Canada, where the first grid-scale unit is expected to be finished by the end of the decade. GVH also supplies boiling water reactor fuel through Global Nuclear Fuel, its joint venture with Hitachi, Ltd.
“This agreement with GE Vernova Hitachi keeps Blue Energy confidently moving forward to build our nuclear energy production line that will unlock the promise of abundant nuclear energy,” said Jake Jurewicz, CEO and co-founder of Blue Energy. “We are shifting from the old way of building large reactor nuclear power to instead do it the ‘Blue Way’ that slashes costs and time to power and finally makes nuclear a financeable, repeatable product.”
“Meeting the surging demand for electricity requires proven, scalable technologies and the ability to bring them together as integrated solutions,” said Eric Gray, CEO of GE Vernova’s Power segment. “Our work with Blue Energy combines GE Vernova’s flagship HA gas turbine technology with GE Vernova Hitachi’s advanced nuclear SMR technology, while supporting Blue Energy’s innovative project model. Together, we are establishing a blueprint for deploying reliable baseload power at the scale and speed customers need.”
Blue Energy’s nuclear deployment model
Blue Energy was founded in 2023 by a team with roots in MIT’s Nuclear Science and Engineering Department. The company builds prefabricated nuclear plants offsite and pairs them with a lower cost of capital, an approach meant to make nuclear power more predictable, faster to build and more affordable. Its backers include VXI Capital, Engine Ventures, At One Ventures and Tamarack Global.
