Westinghouse will conduct a technical feasibility study on two AP1000 nuclear reactors at the Borssele Nuclear Power Station in the Netherlands in support of the Dutch government’s nuclear new-build strategy.
The company signed a contract with the Dutch government to assess the deployment of the Generation III+ reactors at the only operational nuclear power plant in the Netherlands.
Amsterdam’s nuclear new-build strategy aims to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. It has also committed to reducing national greenhouse gas emissions by 49 percent by 2030.
In April 2023, the Dutch government unveiled a $30 billion package to reduce emissions and promote clean energy, sustainable homes and industry, and electric car use.
“With our industry-leading, globally-deployed AP1000 technology, Westinghouse is proud to support the Dutch government and offer reliable, affordable, carbon-free electricity and economic benefits to the Netherlands for decades to come,” David Durham, president of energy systems at Westinghouse, said in a statement Tuesday.
AP1000 offers the smallest footprint per MWe on the market. The only operating Generation III+ reactor, it has fully passive safety systems and a modular design.
In the United States, an AP1000 reactor at the Vogttle Electric Generating Plant located near Waynesboro, Georgia, achieved commercial operation in July 2023. A second unit at the site also reached initial criticality and is expected to begin commercial operation during the second quarter of 2024.