🔸Our Vision: Clean Energy for a High-Demand World
Assumption Energy’s Small Modular Reactor (SMR) initiative is a bold step toward securing Illinois' role as a national leader in clean, carbon-free energy. With energy demand rising rapidly—driven by data centers, industrial growth, and electrification—there is a growing need for reliable power that doesn’t compromise climate goals. Our SMR project is designed to meet this need by delivering 24/7 baseload power from a next-generation nuclear source that is safe, compact, and scalable.
🔸Why We’re Building It Now
Illinois is already the top nuclear energy state in the U.S., but much of its existing infrastructure is aging. Meanwhile, rapid developments in artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and advanced manufacturing are creating new demand for uninterrupted, high-capacity electricity. Solar and wind are critical but intermittent — which is why advanced nuclear, and specifically SMRs, are gaining momentum. Our project brings cutting-edge technology to market in a way that’s faster, more flexible, and more efficient than legacy nuclear systems.
🔸A Smarter Nuclear Solution: The BWRX-300
At the core of our project is the GE Hitachi BWRX-300, a small modular reactor designed to generate up to 300 MW of clean electricity while operating with significantly lower construction time, cost, and regulatory complexity compared to traditional reactors. Its modular design allows components to be manufactured in a factory and assembled on-site, accelerating deployment and reducing risk. Passive safety systems ensure that even in emergency scenarios, the reactor can shut down and cool without operator input or external power sources.
🔸Strategic Co-Location in West Chicago
Our selected site near Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory and DuPage Airport in West Chicago offers an ideal ecosystem for the project. It’s positioned at the intersection of advanced research, transportation logistics, and growing data infrastructure. With direct access to high-voltage transmission lines, nearby industrial zones, and regional workforce training hubs, this location is tailor-made for co-locating clean energy generation with energy-intensive industries. The project is not only about generating power — it's about fueling an entire innovation corridor.
Why SMRs?
Small Modular Reactors offer a breakthrough approach to nuclear power. Unlike traditional nuclear plants that require vast land, decades of planning, and billions in capital, SMRs are factory-built, smaller in footprint, and can be deployed in phases.
Each module, such as the GE Hitachi BWRX-300, provides up to 300 megawatts of clean electricity — enough to power entire cities, campuses, or cloud data centers. These systems feature passive safety protocols, simplified construction, and the ability to integrate directly into existing infrastructure or microgrids.
SMRs also help solve key challenges in today’s energy transition:
- They provide 24/7 carbon-free baseload power, unlike intermittent solar or wind.
- They offer grid stability, especially for energy-intensive facilities like AI data farms.
- They are ideal for regions phasing out fossil fuel plants but still requiring industrial-scale energy.
📍 Potential SMR Locations in Illinois
🔸 1. 1–3 Fabyan Parkway, West Chicago, IL
🔸 2. Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (FNAL), West Chicago, IL
🔸 2. Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (FNAL), West Chicago, IL
Located near Kerry Farms’ infrastructure hub, this site sits along a major industrial corridor with strong connections to local distribution centers, retail supply chains, and clean energy off-takers. It is highly accessible by road and rail and offers a large footprint suitable for both SMR deployment and future energy-dependent tenants such as logistics hubs or large retailers. Its proximity to existing commercial infrastructure reduces prep time and allows for efficient permitting and interconnection.
🔸 2. Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (FNAL), West Chicago, IL
🔸 2. Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (FNAL), West Chicago, IL
🔸 2. Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (FNAL), West Chicago, IL
This federally owned 127-acre parcel borders the northern perimeter of Fermilab and includes approximately 110 acres available for development. It features overhead electrical conductors, direct access to a 345kV ComEd substation, and adjacency to the DuPage Business Center. The site’s proximity to high-capacity fiber infrastructure makes it ideal for co-locating with energy-intensive facilities like AI research labs, data centers, or quantum computing nodes. A federal-to-state land transfer mechanism exists, potentially expediting development timelines.
🔸 3. Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont, IL
🔸 2. Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (FNAL), West Chicago, IL
🔸 3. Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont, IL
This 110-acre site within Argonne’s 1,518-acre research campus combines undeveloped land with repurposable infrastructure. Owned by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), it is surrounded by national lab assets, DuPage County forest preserve land, and a mix of residential and commercial areas. The location is attractive for partnerships in nuclear innovation, advanced computing, and microgrid development. Its research-heavy ecosystem makes it ideal for pilot-scale deployments, public-private collaborations, and STEM workforce development.
🧪 SMR Technology: BWRX-300 by GE Hitachi
🔸 Reactor Overview
🔸 Smart, Safe, and Modular by Design
🔸 Smart, Safe, and Modular by Design
At the heart of the West Chicago SMR Project is the BWRX-300, a 300 MWe small modular reactor developed by GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy (GEH). As the tenth generation of Boiling Water Reactor (BWR) technology, the BWRX-300 leverages decades of operational experience with modern advancements in safety, efficiency, and modular construction.
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At the heart of the West Chicago SMR Project is the BWRX-300, a 300 MWe small modular reactor developed by GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy (GEH). As the tenth generation of Boiling Water Reactor (BWR) technology, the BWRX-300 leverages decades of operational experience with modern advancements in safety, efficiency, and modular construction.
The reactor operates using a natural circulation system and a direct-cycle Rankine thermodynamic loop, reducing complexity and increasing thermal efficiency. It features passive safety systems that allow for automatic shutdown and heat removal without operator intervention or external power — a major advancement in nuclear safety.
🔸 Smart, Safe, and Modular by Design
🔸 Smart, Safe, and Modular by Design
🔸 Smart, Safe, and Modular by Design
The BWRX-300 is built with simplicity and scalability in mind. Its Steel-Plate Composite Containment Vessel (SCCV) provides structural strength with fewer components, while Steel Bricks™ modular construction significantly cuts construction time and costs — reducing CAPEX by up to 60% compared to traditional large nuclear facilities.
The d
The BWRX-300 is built with simplicity and scalability in mind. Its Steel-Plate Composite Containment Vessel (SCCV) provides structural strength with fewer components, while Steel Bricks™ modular construction significantly cuts construction time and costs — reducing CAPEX by up to 60% compared to traditional large nuclear facilities.
The design supports load-following capabilities, making it ideal for pairing with intermittent renewable energy sources or industrial customers with fluctuating demand. Its simplified systems also lower staffing requirements and enable faster licensing and deployment.
Digital and automated controls allow remote operation, predictive maintenance, and AI-driven performance optimization, helping reduce human error and ensuring reliability across its lifecycle.
🔸 Licensing & Certification
🔸 Smart, Safe, and Modular by Design
🔸 Operations, Monitoring & Fuel
The BWRX-300 is currently undergoing certification by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), with approval expected by Q4 2025. Simultaneously, an Early Site Permit (ESP) is in process for the West Chicago location, aligning the project with national safety and control regulations under the Nuclear Safety and Control Act (NSCA).
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The BWRX-300 is currently undergoing certification by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), with approval expected by Q4 2025. Simultaneously, an Early Site Permit (ESP) is in process for the West Chicago location, aligning the project with national safety and control regulations under the Nuclear Safety and Control Act (NSCA).
This dual-track regulatory approach ensures the project remains on schedule for groundbreaking and construction approvals by 2026, with commercial operation projected for 2030.
🔸 Operations, Monitoring & Fuel
🔸 Smart, Safe, and Modular by Design
🔸 Operations, Monitoring & Fuel
Once operational, the reactor will be monitored using Digital Twin technology for real-time diagnostics and predictive maintenance. The refueling cycle is expected to range from 12 to 24 months, using advanced GNF2 fuel bundles designed for longer life and improved thermal efficiency.
Automated refueling and AI-based monitoring will reduc
Once operational, the reactor will be monitored using Digital Twin technology for real-time diagnostics and predictive maintenance. The refueling cycle is expected to range from 12 to 24 months, using advanced GNF2 fuel bundles designed for longer life and improved thermal efficiency.
Automated refueling and AI-based monitoring will reduce downtime and operational costs. The plant will also be supported remotely by GEH’s nuclear operations center, offering technical support, monitoring, and optimization services throughout its lifecycle.
💼 Economic Impact
Powering Illinois’ economy with clean, resilient energy.
The chart highlights the projected economic benefits of Assumption Energy’s Small Modular Reactor (SMR) development in Illinois. The project is expected to generate over $300 million in local construction-related spending, with an additional $200 million in supply chain contracts awarded to U.S.-based vendors and service providers.
Beyond construction, the SMR project will support 450 long-term skilled jobs, ranging from plant operations to cybersecurity and engineering roles. Over 10 years, the project is projected to contribute more than $125 million in local tax revenue, while also funding new educational and workforce training initiatives to prepare the next generation of clean energy professionals.
This SMR development represents not just an energy solution — but a long-term investment in economic growth, workforce stability, and industrial innovation for the region.