GE Vernova’s Nuclear Fuel Rods to be Evaluated at Oak Ridge National Laboratory

**WILMINGTON, N.C. (May 9, 2024)** – High burnup fuel rods produced by GE Vernova’s Nuclear Fuel business, Global Nuclear Fuel (GNF), have been delivered to the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) for post-commercial operation examination. These rods have successfully completed three full cycles of operation at a U.S. nuclear power plant.

Mike Chilton, Executive Vice President of GNF, stated, “This shipment represents another milestone in our pursuit to develop the next generation of safer and more reliable fuel. We are proud to collaborate with Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the U.S. Department of Energy to benefit the entire industry.”

Frank Goldner, a nuclear engineer in DOE’s Office of Nuclear Energy, remarked, “This shipment to Oak Ridge National Laboratory is crucial in GNF’s efforts to commercialize high burnup fuel. Such fuels are expected to enhance the performance of today’s reactors and aid in achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.”

Manufactured at GNF’s Wilmington, NC facility, these fuel rods will undergo evaluation to provide valuable insights into high burnup fuel, a key objective of DOE’s Accident Tolerant Fuel (ATF) program. High burnup fuel is anticipated to improve nuclear safety by allowing fuel to remain in the reactor core longer before removal for long-term storage. This can enhance fuel cycle economics and support power uprates. The post-irradiation examinations at ORNL will support GNF’s development, engineering, and licensing efforts to ensure safe and reliable fuel performance under extended operating conditions.

About GE Vernova

GE Vernova is a planned global energy company encompassing Power, Wind, and Electrification businesses, supported by its Advanced Research, Consulting Services, and Financial Services accelerators. With over 130 years of experience, GE Vernova is uniquely positioned to lead the energy transition by electrifying the world and simultaneously working to decarbonize it. Headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts, GE Vernova employs over 80,000 people across more than 100 countries.

GE Vernova’s Nuclear energy business, in alliance with Hitachi, is a leading provider of nuclear fuel bundles, services, and advanced reactor designs. Technologies include boiling water reactors and small modular reactors, such as the innovative BWRX-300. GNF, a GE Vernova-led joint venture with Hitachi, Ltd., supplies boiling water reactor fuel and related engineering services. GNF operates through Global Nuclear Fuel-Americas, LLC in Wilmington, N.C., and Global Nuclear Fuel-Japan Co., Ltd. in Kurihama, Japan.

GE Vernova’s mission reflects its legacy of quality and ingenuity (“GE”), its commitment to the environment (“Ver” / “verde”), and its innovative approach to low-carbon energy (“Nova”). Supported by the Company Purpose, The Energy to Change the World, GE Vernova aims to deliver an affordable, reliable, sustainable, and secure energy future.

Forward-Looking Statements

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