Design Certification Applications for New Reactors
By issuing a design certification, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) approves a nuclear power plant design, independent of an application to construct or operate a plant. A design certification is valid for 40 years from the date of issuance, but can be renewed for an additional 40 years.
Design certification is achieved through the NRC's rulemaking process, and is founded on the staff's review of the application, which addresses the various safety issues associated with the proposed nuclear power plant design, independent of a specific site. During this process, the NRC notifies all stakeholders (including the public) as to how and when they may participate in the regulatory process, which may include participating in public meetings and rulemaking activities related to design certifications. See our Backgrounder on New Nuclear Plant Designs for an overview of new nuclear plant designs and the status of their respective reviews.
The links below provide information on the design certifications that the NRC has issued to date, as well as the applications that have been received. The activities associated with reviewing these applications are reflected in the individual links for docketed design certification applications.
On this page:
Issued Design Certifications
The NRC staff has issued the following design certifications:
Design | Applicant |
---|---|
General Electric (GE) Nuclear Energy | |
Korea Electric Power Corporation and Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Co., Ltd. | |
South Texas Project Nuclear Operating Company | |
System 80+ | Westinghouse Electric Company |
Advanced Passive 600 (AP600) | Westinghouse Electric Company |
Westinghouse Electric Company | |
GE-Hitachi Nuclear Energy | |
NuScale Power, LLC |
Design Certification Applications Received
The NRC has received the following design certification applications:
Design | Applicant | Status |
---|---|---|
AREVA NP, Inc. | Suspended | |
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. | Suspended | |
Toshiba Corporation Power Systems Company | Withdrawn | |
GE-Hitachi Nuclear Energy | Renewed |
Page Last Reviewed/Updated Monday, September 15, 2025
Page Last Reviewed/Updated Monday, September 15, 2025