A 2.5 gigawatt (GW) gas-plus-nuclear power plant in Victoria, Texas, is moving forward after an agreement between Blue Energy and GE Vernova Hitachi Nuclear Energy (GVH). 5 gigawatt (GW) gas-plus-nuclear power plant in Victoria, Texas, is moving forward following an agreement between developer Blue Energy and GE Vernova Hitachi Nuclear Energy (GVH).
The project will combine GE Vernova 7HA.02 gas turbines with GVH BWRX-300 small modular reactors (SMRs). Leaders from both companies, including Blue Energy CEO and co-founder Jake Jurewicz and Eric Gray, CEO of GE Vernova’s Power segment, affirmed their commitment to an innovative, staged approach to power generation.
Texas gas-plus-nuclear plant tackles surging industrial demand
The proposed 2.5 GW facility in Victoria, Texas, represents a direct response to the unprecedented power requirements of artificial intelligence infrastructure and advanced manufacturing. These industries are experiencing exponential growth, putting immense strain on existing electrical grids. Powering this expansion demands reliable, high-capacity generation solutions.
Integrating natural gas and nuclear power offers a potent combination of flexibility and baseload stability. Natural gas turbines can provide rapid-response power, while SMRs offer consistent, carbon-free energy. This hybrid model helps cushion the immediate load while establishing long-term, sustainable power delivery for critical sectors.
Pioneering integrated power generation
The core of this ambitious Texas power plant lies in its dual-technology design. It will initially deploy two GE Vernova 7HA.02 gas turbines, capable of generating approximately 1 GW of power. These units are among the most efficient gas turbines available globally, offering quick ramp-up times essential for meeting fluctuating demand.
Following this, the plant plans to incorporate up to five GVH BWRX-300 SMRs, which will collectively add another 1.5 GW of nuclear capacity. This modular approach allows for phased development, reducing initial capital outlay and providing power generation incrementally as demand grows. The GE Vernova 7HA.02 gas turbines and GVH BWRX-300 SMRs together form a robust energy solution.
The BWRX-300 small modular reactor
The BWRX-300 is a boiling water small modular reactor design that represents a shift in nuclear power generation. Its smaller footprint and modular construction promise reduced capital costs and shorter construction timelines compared to traditional large-scale nuclear plants. The first BWRX-300 is currently under construction at Ontario Power Generation’s Darlington site in Canada.
If successful, the Darlington project would make it the first grid-scale SMR in the Western world, setting a crucial precedent. This ongoing construction provides tangible evidence of the BWRX-300’s readiness for deployment, adding confidence to the Victoria, Texas, initiative.
Blue Energy’s accelerated construction strategy
Blue Energy’s approach, dubbed the “Blue Way,” seeks to redefine nuclear power plant construction. Jake Jurewicz stated that the company is “shifting from the old way of building large reactor nuclear power to instead do it the ‘Blue Way’ that slashes costs and time to power and finally makes nuclear a financeable, repeatable product.”
This strategy is centered on prefabricated nuclear power plants and an expedited deployment model.
A significant milestone in this strategy was the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) approval in December 2025 of Blue Energy’s proprietary construction methodology. This approval supports large module assembly and a gas-to-nuclear delivery schedule.
Such resequencing of major construction phases could eliminate “at least half a decade” off the conventional ten-year-plus nuclear timeline, cutting time to power to 48 months or less by leveraging a natural gas bridge to full nuclear operation.
Overcoming construction hurdles with innovation
The industry has long grappled with the high costs and protracted schedules associated with nuclear plant construction. Blue Energy and GVH are actively exploring methods for contracting and offsite construction of large power plant modules. This approach is consistent with GVH’s BWRX-300 design, aiming to significantly reduce capital expenditures and accelerate the supply chains for offsite pre-fabrication.
By moving much of the construction to controlled factory environments, companies can improve quality control and efficiency. This minimises on-site labour and complex logistical challenges typically faced by large infrastructure projects. This systematic approach contributes to making nuclear energy a more economically viable option for industrial users.
A phased energization plan
The project timeline outlines a pragmatic phased approach to bringing the 2.5 GW plant online. The initial phase focuses on rapidly deploying the gas turbine capacity to meet immediate power needs. By 2030, the two GE Vernova gas turbines are expected to provide approximately 1 GW of power, initially energizing a nearby data centre.
This early power delivery is crucial for supporting the initial growth of energy-intensive operations like data centres, which cannot afford lengthy delays. Following this, from 2032 onwards, the up to five GVH BWRX-300 SMRs will progressively come online, adding the remaining 1.5 GW of nuclear power. This sequential commissioning ensures continuous energy supply and allows for a smooth transition to a predominantly nuclear baseload.
The arrangement included a slot reservation agreement for the delivery of two GE Vernova 7HA.02 gas turbines to the Texas site by 2029. This secures critical equipment early, de-risking the initial phase of the project. This structured rollout provides operational stability and ensures that new manufacturing facilities for AI can rely on a consistent power supply.
Economic and industrial implications
The development of this gas-plus-nuclear facility holds substantial implications for the U.S. energy landscape and its industrial future. It provides a blueprint for how the nation can reconcile its growing energy demands with decarbonisation goals, especially given recent grid voltage spikes. The combination offers both low-carbon nuclear power and the flexibility of natural gas, supporting grid stability.
Moreover, having a dedicated 2.5 GW power source for data centres and advanced manufacturing could solidify Texas’s position as a hub for high-tech industries. Reliable and abundant power is a prerequisite for attracting and retaining such businesses. This model could also be replicated in other regions experiencing similar industrial growth and power constraints.
Eric Gray emphasised this point, saying, “Meeting the surging demand for electricity requires proven, scalable technologies and the ability to bring them together as integrated solutions.” This project provides a tangible example of such integration. The ability to deploy such a powerful and resilient energy source offers an advantage to industrial entities considering expansion.
Strategic blueprint for future power generation
The collaboration between Blue Energy, GE Vernova, and GVH extends beyond this single project; it aims to establish a new model for power generation infrastructure. The focus on making nuclear power a “financeable, repeatable product” could unlock broader investment in the sector. This is essential for scaling up carbon-free energy sources globally.
Jake Jurewicz underscored the strategic importance, stating, “By collaborating with GE Vernova, we’re bringing together critical infrastructure, safe reactor technology, and a financeable delivery model.” This integrated approach could serve as a blueprint for similar hybrid power projects in other industrialised nations and regions facing rapidly expanding energy needs.
Combining established gas turbine technology with emerging SMR capabilities provides the necessary power. It would also support the development of data centres and advanced manufacturing operations, without the long lead times or high risks associated with traditional large-scale nuclear builds. This scalable and repeatable design has the potential to transform industrial power landscapes far beyond Texas.
