First 'Gas-Plus-Nuclear' Power Plant for Data Centers Advances in Texas
Blue Energy, a developer of prefabricated nuclear power plants, and GE Vernova Hitachi Nuclear Energy (GVH) have signed an agreement advancing the next phase of a planned 2.5-gigawatt “gas-plus-nuclear” power plant near Victoria, Texas, Power Engineering reports.
The new agreement moves forward engineering design, licensing, and safety analysis for the project, which pairs GE Vernova 7HA.02 gas turbines with GVH BWRX-300 small modular reactors (SMRs) on the same site. Blue Energy is aiming for a final investment decision in 2027. The company says the hybrid approach lets it energize gas turbines first, then convert to nuclear baseload power as the SMRs come online, cutting the typical decade-plus nuclear construction timeline by “at least half a decade.”
Phased Build-Out
Under the current plan, Blue Energy would first bring roughly 1 GW online in 2030 using two GE Vernova gas turbines to power a nearby data center, then add another 1.5 GW starting in 2032 from up to five GVH BWRX-300 SMRs. The companies are also exploring offsite fabrication and modular construction methods for the BWRX-300 design, aiming to cut capital costs and speed up prefabrication supply chains.
“This agreement with GE Vernova Hitachi keeps Blue Energy confidently moving forward to build our nuclear energy production line that will unlock the promise of abundant nuclear energy,” said Jake Jurewicz, Blue Energy CEO and co-founder. “We are 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.”
Eric Gray, CEO of GE Vernova’s Power segment, said the collaboration combines “GE Vernova’s flagship HA gas turbine technology with GE Vernova Hitachi’s advanced nuclear SMR technology, while supporting Blue Energy’s innovative project model.”
Regulatory Path and Reference Design
The BWRX-300 is not yet operating anywhere in the Western world — the first unit is currently under construction at Ontario Power Generation’s Darlington site in Canada, with completion targeted before the end of the decade. Power Engineering notes the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission recently approved Blue Energy’s approach to resequencing major construction phases, a change the company says supports its large-module, gas-to-nuclear delivery schedule and could bring time to power down to 48 months or less.
What It Means for Subcontractors
A phased gas-then-nuclear build on a single Texas site means an extended, multi-stage construction program rather than a single mobilization. Early work through 2030 centers on conventional gas turbine plant construction and balance-of-plant scope; the later 2032-plus phase adds nuclear-grade civil, mechanical, and electrical work tied to modular SMR installation, along with the specialized QA/QC and safety-case documentation nuclear projects require. Contractors with combined-cycle gas plant experience who also want exposure to the emerging SMR market should watch for bid packages as the 2027 final investment decision approaches, and expect nuclear-specific licensing requirements to shape subcontractor qualification well ahead of any nuclear-scope mobilization.
