Westinghouse Electric Company and Hyundai Engineering & Construction Company have signed a teaming agreement to explore AP1000® nuclear technology opportunities in Sweden and Finland. Under the agreement, Westinghouse will handle the design and development of its globally recognized AP1000 technology, while Hyundai will provide its expertise in industrial engineering and construction. This partnership builds on a 2022 strategic cooperation between the two companies to pursue global AP1000 plant projects.
This announcement follows Vattenfall’s February plan to launch new nuclear projects at Ringhals, aiming to have the first reactor operational by the early 2030s, with key decisions on reactor types expected this year. Additionally, Fortum and Westinghouse signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in June 2023 to explore the potential for new nuclear plants in Finland and Sweden.
“For over 50 years, Westinghouse has been proud to support Vattenfall in providing clean, safe, and reliable energy from the Ringhals Nuclear Power Plant, which is based on Westinghouse design. Partnering with Fortum would add another significant dimension to nuclear development in the region,” said Daniel S. Lipman, President of Westinghouse Energy Systems. “With Hyundai – a global, top-tier EPC company – we are eager to bring our proven AP1000 technology alongside a proven nuclear construction partner to ensure energy security for Sweden and Finland for the next century.”
Young-joon Yoon, CEO & President of Hyundai E&C, commented, “Hyundai E&C has developed unmatched expertise in nuclear EPC services, demonstrated by our construction management of 24 large-scale nuclear power plants worldwide. Our long-standing relationship with Westinghouse, which began in 1971, will help us maximize the combined strengths of both companies for project success.”
The AP1000 reactor, the only operational Generation III+ reactor, features fully passive safety systems, modular construction design, and the smallest footprint per MWe available. Currently, four AP1000 reactors are operational in China, with eight more under construction and four under contract. Two AP1000 units are also operational at the Vogtle site in Georgia, USA. The technology has been selected for nuclear programs in Poland, Ukraine, and Bulgaria, and is being considered at several other locations in Europe, the UK, India, and North America. By the end of the decade, there will be 18 AP1000 units in operation worldwide.
Westinghouse Electric Company is a leader in carbon-free energy innovation, providing safe nuclear and clean power technologies globally. The company supplied the world’s first commercial pressurized water reactor in 1957, and its technology underpins nearly half of the world’s nuclear plants. With over 135 years of innovation, Westinghouse remains a trusted partner for advanced technologies across the nuclear energy life cycle.
