GE Vernova has begun construction on Canada's first licensed small modular reactor (SMR), marking a major milestone in moving advanced nuclear technology from concept to commercial operation. The company's 2025 Sustainability Report, released on June 17, 2026, documents significant progress across breakthrough energy technologies, including the GE Vernova Hitachi BWRX-300 reactor now under construction at Ontario Power Generation's Darlington site in Clarington, Ontario. In April 2025, GE Vernova Hitachi received the first license issued to construct an SMR in Canada, with construction beginning in May 2025.

What Makes Small Modular Reactors Different From Traditional Nuclear Plants?

Small modular reactors represent a fundamental shift in how the nuclear industry approaches power generation. Unlike conventional large reactors that require massive upfront capital investment and years of construction, SMRs are designed to be smaller, faster to deploy, and suitable for locations where traditional nuclear plants are impractical. The GE Vernova Hitachi BWRX-300 will deliver the first operating commercial SMR in the Western world, demonstrating that this technology is moving beyond pilot projects into real-world deployment.

The significance of this Canadian project extends beyond nuclear innovation alone. It reflects a broader shift in how energy companies are approaching the challenge of meeting global electricity demand while reducing carbon emissions. GE Vernova brought 26 gigawatts of new generating capacity online in 2025, with nearly half deployed in developing and emerging economies, demonstrating a commitment to expanding energy access globally.

How Is GE Vernova Advancing Multiple Breakthrough Energy Technologies?

GE Vernova's strategy extends far beyond nuclear power. The company is simultaneously advancing a portfolio of technologies designed to decarbonize the grid and meet growing electricity demand. These breakthrough innovations are moving from research phases into commercial deployment, creating a diversified toolkit for the energy transition.

• Small Modular Reactors: The GE Vernova Hitachi BWRX-300 under construction in Canada will be the first operating commercial SMR in the Western world, demonstrating the viability of this technology at scale.
• Carbon Capture and Storage: Construction began in 2025 on the Net Zero Teesside Power station in the United Kingdom, which will become the world's first commercial-scale gas power plant equipped with carbon capture and storage, generating over 740 megawatts of lower-carbon power.
• Direct Air Capture: GE Vernova's 10-ton-per-year direct air capture pilot system at its Advanced Research Center in Niskayuna, New York is now operational, capturing carbon dioxide directly from ambient air, with deployment planned at Deep Sky Alpha in Alberta, Canada, to become the world's first cross-technology carbon dioxide removal hub.
• Hydrogen and Ammonia Fuels: GE Vernova and IHI completed a large-scale combustion test facility to validate advanced ammonia combustion systems, while the company successfully demonstrated hydrogen combustion technology for multiple gas turbine classes with emissions below 25 parts per million nitrogen oxides.

These technologies are not theoretical exercises. Each represents a concrete step toward commercial deployment, with real construction projects underway and operational systems now in use.

What Impact Are These Technologies Having on Global Carbon Emissions?

One of the most significant findings in GE Vernova's 2025 report is the measurable carbon advantage of its new power generation. New power generating capacity deployed by the company is approximately 31 percent below the global average carbon intensity of the existing grid. This means that every megawatt of new capacity GE Vernova brings online actively reduces the overall carbon footprint of electricity generation.

In 2025 alone, deploying technologies with lower carbon emissions than the current standard avoided 22 million metric tons of carbon dioxide, equivalent to removing 5.1 million gasoline-powered passenger vehicles from the road for one year. This carbon reduction is particularly important given that 47 percent of GE Vernova's new generating capacity in 2025 was deployed in developing and emerging economies, ensuring that emerging regions can access clean electricity as they expand their energy infrastructure.

Beyond power generation, GE Vernova is reducing its own operational footprint. The company achieved a 27 percent year-over-year reduction in Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions across its operations in 2025, with a cumulative 64 percent reduction since 2019. Additionally, 53 percent of GE Vernova's top products are now covered by its circularity framework, which emphasizes rethinking, reducing, reusing, and recycling materials.

"At its core, our work is not only about electrons and emissions. Energy is about people, and we're working to electrify the planet in a way that enables individuals, communities, and economies to thrive, every day," said Scott Strazik.

Scott Strazik, CEO at GE Vernova

How Is GE Vernova Building Workforce Capacity for Advanced Energy Technologies?

Deploying breakthrough energy technologies requires a skilled workforce capable of operating, maintaining, and innovating around these systems. GE Vernova has made significant investments in workforce development through its foundation programs. Approximately 10,700 students and learners have been reached through the GE Vernova Foundation's workforce development programs since the beginning of 2024, with an overall goal to reach 30,000 learners by 2030.

This investment in human capital reflects a recognition that the energy transition depends not only on technological innovation but also on building the next generation of skilled professionals who can support these systems globally. As advanced technologies like SMRs, carbon capture systems, and hydrogen combustion equipment become more prevalent, the demand for trained technicians and engineers will only increase.

"The story of GE Vernova is one of an unrelenting focus on delivering the technologies the world needs not just today, but importantly for the decades ahead. I have never been more optimistic about our ability to help meet not only the needs of today, but of the generations that follow," noted Roger Martella.

Roger Martella, Chief Corporate Officer and Chief Sustainability Officer at GE Vernova

What Does GE Vernova's Progress Mean for Global Energy Access?

The convergence of multiple breakthrough technologies moving into commercial deployment signals a fundamental shift in how the energy industry approaches decarbonization and electrification. GE Vernova's deployment of the first licensed SMR in Canada, combined with carbon capture projects in the United Kingdom and direct air capture systems in Canada, demonstrates that these technologies are no longer confined to research facilities.

The fact that nearly half of GE Vernova's new generating capacity in 2025 was deployed in developing and emerging economies underscores a critical insight: the energy transition is a global challenge requiring solutions that work across different regions and economic contexts. As electricity demand continues to grow worldwide, the availability of diverse, low-carbon power generation options becomes increasingly important for ensuring that all regions can access reliable, affordable, and sustainable energy.

GE Vernova's 2025 Sustainability Report demonstrates that the company is advancing not just individual technologies but an integrated approach to electrification and decarbonization. The combination of SMRs, carbon capture and storage, direct air capture, and hydrogen fuel capabilities provides a comprehensive toolkit for meeting the world's evolving energy needs while reducing carbon intensity across the global grid.