Holtec’s SMR-300 completes Generic Design Assessment

GDA process enables regulators to assess new nuclear power station designs at an early stage of the regulatory process

The Environment Agency, Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR), and Natural Resources Wales (NRW) can confirm that the Holtec SMR-300 nuclear reactor design has successfully completed Step 2 of the Generic Design Assessment (GDA). 

Step 2 began in August 2024 and involved a comprehensive and rigorous regulatory assessment examining the fundamental adequacy of the reactor design and its safety, security, safeguards and environmental protection documentation. 

The assessment has concluded with the issuing of two GDA statements setting out the regulators’ conclusions on the Holtec SMR-300 and its supporting documentation.  

Regulators have confirmed that their assessments have identified no fundamental safety, security, safeguards or environmental protection shortfalls with the design that would prevent its deployment in England and Wales 

Saffron Price-Finnerty, the Environment Agency’s New Reactors Programme Manager, said: 

This is an important milestone for the Holtec SMR-300 project and is a great demonstration of the effective collaboration between Holtec and the regulators.  

Based on our assessment across all topic areas, we have found no fundamental environmental protection shortfalls at this stage in the development of the SMR-300, that could prevent the design from being acceptable for future deployment in England or Wales. 

As the environmental regulator of nuclear sites and radioactive substances in England, the Environment Agency ensures that nuclear companies and the sites they operate meet high standards of environmental protection throughout the stages of design, construction, operation and decommissioning.

Tim Parkes, ONR’s Head of the Holtec SMR-300 GDA, said: 

Our assessment covered 21 technical topic areas, and we have not identified any fundamental shortfalls.