DL E&C announced on the 25th that it has signed a contract with U.S. small modular reactor (SMR) company X-energy for an "SMR standardized design." The contract is worth approximately $10 million (15 billion Korean won), with plans to complete the design by the first half of next year. This marks the first time a domestic construction company has directly undertaken SMR standardized design work.
DL E&C
SMR standardized design involves specifying how each facility within a power plant will interconnect and operate, forming the backbone of SMR construction. The core of standardization is "modularization." Components with similar functions are grouped into modules, prefabricated, and assembled on-site like LEGO blocks. The goal is to reduce the number of parts and processes, enhance construction efficiency, and lower costs by repeatedly applying the same design. The completed design will be applied starting with the first-of-its-kind unit scheduled to begin operation in 2030, extending to X-energy’s subsequent projects. Currently, X-energy is advancing SMR construction in Texas and Washington states, with the generated power set to supply Amazon Web Services (AWS).
Unlike conventional light-water reactors, X-energy possesses fourth-generation SMR technology that uses helium gas as a coolant. In 2024, backed by Amazon’s investment, it pursued the introduction of a 5 GW-scale SMR. Last year, it signed a joint development agreement with British energy company Centrica for a 6 GW-scale nuclear power project, successively expanding collaborations with global big tech firms.
Through this contract, DL E&C plans to move beyond simple construction and directly engage in business development. While its affiliate DL Energy will handle SMR project development and investment, DL E&C will be responsible for engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC), with DL Energy again overseeing power generation and operations. This structure aims to complete a group-wide energy value chain.
