WILMINGTON, North Carolina (August 13, 2025) – Global Nuclear Fuel (GNF), a GE Vernova-led partnership with Hitachi, Ltd., has delivered high burnup nuclear fuel rods to the U.S. Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) for post-operation examination and analysis.

The shipment included fuel rods taken from GNF2 fuel assemblies that had previously completed two operating cycles at a U.S. nuclear power plant. Working closely with the utility operator, the assemblies were later relicensed through GNF’s U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission-approved process as high burnup lead use assemblies and returned to service for an additional operating cycle, allowing them to exceed existing NRC burnup licensing thresholds. Researchers at PNNL will now study how the extended reactor exposure affected fuel and cladding behavior.

“The examination of these fuel rods represents another important step in advancing safer, more efficient, and more reliable nuclear fuel technologies,” said Craig Ranson, Installed Base CEO of GE Vernova Hitachi Nuclear Energy. “We are pleased to collaborate with the Department of Energy, PNNL, and utility partners on research that can benefit the broader nuclear industry.”

Frank Goldner, federal program manager for the Accident Tolerant Fuel initiative within the DOE Office of Nuclear Energy, described the effort as a major milestone for the program. According to Goldner, advanced high burnup fuel technology could support efforts to increase output at existing nuclear plants and contribute to long-term energy expansion initiatives in the United States.

Mark Nutt, director of PNNL’s nuclear energy market sector, said the material provides a rare opportunity for in-depth scientific evaluation. He noted that the laboratory’s multidisciplinary research capabilities could help generate valuable insights for the future of reliable and abundant nuclear energy generation in the U.S.

The fuel rods were produced at GNF’s manufacturing facility in Wilmington, North Carolina. Data gathered from the examinations will support both DOE objectives and GNF’s ongoing development work related to high burnup fuel performance under extended operating conditions.

High burnup nuclear fuel is expected to improve fuel cycle economics by allowing fuel assemblies to remain in reactor cores longer while operating at higher efficiency levels. Fewer fuel replacements over time could also contribute to improved operational safety and reduced volumes of spent nuclear fuel requiring long-term storage.

The post-irradiation examinations being conducted by PNNL are intended to support GNF’s engineering, licensing, and fuel qualification programs to ensure continued safe and reliable reactor performance under expanded operating parameters.

The fuel design being evaluated is also planned for use in the initial core configuration of the GE Vernova Hitachi BWRX-300 small modular reactor. Information collected through this research program may contribute to future fuel cycle optimization for the BWRX-300 platform, including the possibility of extending fuel operating cycles to between 36 and 48 months.

About GE Vernova Hitachi Nuclear Energy

GE Vernova’s nuclear energy business, through its alliance with Hitachi, is a global supplier of nuclear fuel, reactor services, and advanced reactor technologies. Its portfolio includes boiling water reactors and small modular reactor technologies such as the BWRX-300. The company’s nuclear fuel division, Global Nuclear Fuel (GNF), is a leading supplier of boiling water reactor fuel and engineering services, operating primarily through facilities in Wilmington, North Carolina, and Kurihama, Japan.

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