Bulgaria may soon enter the small modular nuclear reactor (SMR) arena following a new partnership between an international nuclear developer and a local energy company. Poland-based Synthos Green Energy has reached a preliminary agreement with Blue Bird Energy to establish a joint venture focused on deploying up to six advanced SMR units in the country.
The planned cooperation is intended to lay the groundwork for a new generation of zero-emission nuclear capacity designed to deliver continuous, competitively priced electricity. According to the project outline, the reactors would primarily supply energy-intensive industrial consumers, support the rapid growth of data centers and artificial intelligence infrastructure, and contribute to the decarbonization of district heating systems across Bulgaria.
Under the proposed joint venture structure, the partners would be responsible for identifying and preparing suitable sites, navigating licensing and regulatory procedures, overseeing construction and project execution, securing financing, and ensuring long-term operational safety and performance once the plants enter service.
The reactors under consideration are the BWRX-300 units developed by GE Vernova Hitachi. This SMR design relies on passive safety features and modular construction methods, which are expected to shorten build times and significantly lower investment costs. Developers estimate potential capital cost reductions of up to 60% per megawatt compared with traditional nuclear projects, positioning the technology as one of the most competitive SMR options currently available.
With this initiative, Bulgaria would join a growing group of countries, including the United States, Canada, Poland, and Hungary, that are actively preparing to deploy the BWRX-300 technology. Synthos Green Energy has emphasized that access to stable, low-cost baseload electricity could strengthen Bulgaria’s industrial competitiveness, while also opening opportunities for local companies to participate in the global supply chain for this reactor type.
Founded in 2019, Synthos Green Energy is directly involved as a co-investor in the standardized design of the BWRX-300 and has been expanding its SMR partnerships across more than half a dozen European markets. The Bulgarian project would represent another step in its strategy to scale the technology regionally.
Blue Bird Energy, headquartered in Sofia, focuses on early-stage development of small modular nuclear projects, including feasibility studies, site selection, engineering, construction, and commissioning. According to Bulgaria’s commercial register, its main shareholders are the construction and engineering group Glavbolgarstroy and Assarel-Medet, the country’s largest copper mining and processing company.