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GE Vernova Alliance Wins Nuclear Fuel Contract
Entergy extends nuclear fuel supply agreement for Grand Gulf and River Bend through 2035.
www.gevernova.com
Global Nuclear Fuel (GNF), a GE Vernova-led alliance with Hitachi Ltd., has secured a new nuclear fuel supply contract from Entergy for the Grand Gulf and River Bend nuclear power plants.
The agreement extends the existing fuel supply partnership through 2035 and includes four reloads of the next-generation GNF4 nuclear fuel design for the two boiling water reactor (BWR) facilities.
According to GNF, the company has supplied nuclear fuel for the plants since 2008 and will now introduce its newest fuel technology to enhance operational efficiency and reliability.
Deployment of next-generation GNF4 fuel
The GNF4 fuel design, introduced in October 2025, incorporates advanced technologies to improve performance and safety.
Lead use assemblies of the new fuel are scheduled to be deployed at River Bend in 2027, while full reloads are planned for Grand Gulf in 2030 and River Bend in 2031.
The 11×11 GNF4 fuel assembly includes two key innovations approved by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission:
- Ziron cladding, engineered to enhance corrosion resistance
- Aluminosilicate-doped uranium dioxide pellets, providing Accident Tolerant Fuel (ATF) benefits and additional operational reliability
These improvements allow reactors to achieve the same power output with lower uranium usage and reduced enrichment requirements, improving overall fuel efficiency.
Long-term partnership with Entergy
Entergy operates both nuclear facilities—Grand Gulf Nuclear Station in Mississippi and River Bend Station in Louisiana—as part of its energy generation portfolio.
The extended agreement strengthens the long-standing partnership between Entergy and GE Vernova’s nuclear energy businesses.
Fuel for the plants will be manufactured at GNF’s fuel fabrication facility in Wilmington, North Carolina, which supports nuclear utilities with fuel production, engineering and technical services.
Comprehensive nuclear fuel services
Beyond fuel manufacturing, Global Nuclear Fuel provides a range of services for nuclear operators, including:
Long-term partnership with Entergy
Entergy operates both nuclear facilities—Grand Gulf Nuclear Station in Mississippi and River Bend Station in Louisiana—as part of its energy generation portfolio.
The extended agreement strengthens the long-standing partnership between Entergy and GE Vernova’s nuclear energy businesses.
Fuel for the plants will be manufactured at GNF’s fuel fabrication facility in Wilmington, North Carolina, which supports nuclear utilities with fuel production, engineering and technical services.
Comprehensive nuclear fuel services
Beyond fuel manufacturing, Global Nuclear Fuel provides a range of services for nuclear operators, including:
- Reactor core and fuel cycle engineering
- Reload licensing and core management
- Fuel reliability risk assessments and predictive analysis
- Cyber-secure core monitoring and fleet analytics
- Fuel examination and long-term storage consulting
The new agreement highlights the continued role of advanced fuel technologies in improving efficiency, safety and economic performance for nuclear power plants.
Edited by an industrial journalist, Lekshman Ramdas.
www.gevernova.com
Edited by an industrial journalist, Lekshman Ramdas.
www.gevernova.com
