Westinghouse Electric Company has signed a contract with Slovenia’s state-owned power utility, GEN energija, to conduct a Technical Feasibility Study (TFS) on the potential deployment of an AP1000 reactor as part of the country’s nuclear expansion strategy.
Hyundai Engineering & Construction Company will collaborate with Westinghouse on the study.
The study will assess the feasibility of installing a single AP1000 nuclear reactor at the proposed Krško-II Nuclear Power Plant. The Krško-II project is planned for a site adjacent to the existing Krško Nuclear Power Plant, which was originally developed using Westinghouse technology. This initiative marks a significant step in Slovenia’s efforts to strengthen energy security and reduce dependence on foreign energy sources.
Westinghouse Energy Systems president Dan Lipman said: “Since delivering the first Krško unit, which has operated very successfully since it started operating in 1983, Westinghouse has built a decades-long partnership with GEN energija through operational and fueling support. We are pleased to extend the relationship to closely study the feasibility of the Krško-II project.
“This potential AP1000 project will not only provide clean, reliable baseload power to Slovenians, it will also deliver real economic benefits and high-quality jobs for years to come while fostering Slovenia’s energy independence.”
The AP1000 reactor is the only operational Generation III+ reactor featuring fully passive safety systems, a modular construction design, and the smallest footprint per megawatt of electricity (MWe) on the market. Currently, six AP1000 reactors are in operation worldwide, setting performance and availability benchmarks. An additional 12 reactors are under construction, with five more under contract. By the end of the decade, a total of 18 units based on AP1000 technology are expected to be operational globally.
Westinghouse’s AP1000 technology has also been selected for nuclear energy projects in Poland, Ukraine, and Bulgaria and is under consideration at multiple sites across Europe, the UK, India, and North America.
