The consortium will work on the development of up to two new gigawatt-scale nuclear power plants to support the country's strategies for decarbonisation and energy security and will support the Nuclear Energy Organisation Netherlands (NEO NL), which will be established next month.
The two-year framework agreement, with options for three additional one-year extensions, was awarded by the Ministry of Climate Policy and Green Growth. In the initial phase, the consortium will oversee site characterisation, technology selection, and planning work scope for site enabling, utility connections and transportation links.
US-based engineering company Amentum, which is leading the NEXUS-NL consortium, will contribute its expertise in managing large nuclear new-build programmes, including setting up a project management office, technology selection, design and engineering expertise and commercial and procurement strategies. Global design, engineering and management consulting company Arcadis will focus on siting studies, conventional licensing, and permitting. Belgian engineering firm Tractebel will bring its owner's engineering experience to define technical requirements for technology selection and will lead front-end engineering design studies. Meanwhile, NRG-Pallas will offer specialised Dutch nuclear expertise from the Pallas research reactor programme, particularly on key interfaces between nuclear and conventional licensing.
"This award advances our strategy as a leader in gigawatt-scale nuclear new-build around the world, based on our deep technical knowledge and unmatched expertise in programme and project management," said Mark Whitney, president of Amentum's Energy & Environment business. "Amentum will bring global project delivery expertise and apply our experience from complex nuclear infrastructure and new build programmes in the US, Europe and the Middle East to support the Netherlands' nuclear power expansion plans."
Denis Dumont, Chief Officer, Business Area Gas Energy Nuclear, Tractebel, added: "We are proud to join the NEXUS-NL consortium to support the Netherlands' ambitious nuclear new build programme. With over 60 years of experience and 1,200 nuclear experts, Tractebel brings proven expertise across the full lifecycle of nuclear power plants. Our teams have contributed to major new-build projects worldwide, including reactors in Finland, France, and the UK, and we act as Responsible Designer and Architect-Engineer for Belgium's seven reactors. We are very proud and committed to delivering safe, reliable, and sustainable solutions to help the Netherlands achieve its energy transition and secure a low-carbon future."
The Dutch Ministry of Climate Policy and Green Growth said: "We are confident that the NEXUS-NL consortium can perform the role as Technical Support Organisation excellently due to its extensive expertise and experience, both in the international nuclear domain and in the Dutch context."
The Netherlands currently has the one, relatively small, nuclear power reactor, at Borssele in the south west of the country. It is a 482 MWe pressurised water reactor which was connected to the grid in 1973 and generates about 3% of the country's electricity.
In December 2021, the Netherlands' new coalition government placed nuclear power at the heart of its climate and energy policy. In addition to keeping the Borssele plant in operation for longer, the government also called for the construction of new reactors. Based on preliminary plans, two new reactors will be completed around 2035 and each will have a capacity of 1000-1650 MWe. The two reactors would provide 9-13% of the country's electricity production in 2035. The cabinet announced in December 2022 that it currently sees Borssele as the most suitable location for the construction of the new reactors. Three other locations are also being considered for the reactors: the Tweede Maasvlakte near Rotterdam, Terneuzen in Zeeland and Eemshaven in Groningen.
EDF of France, Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power of South Korea and Westinghouse of the USA were contracted by the Ministry of Climate Policy and Green Growth to conduct feasibility studies into the construction of their respective reactors - the EPR, APR-1400 and AP1000 - in the Netherlands. The studies were to consider whether their designs comply with Dutch legislation and regulations, whether they can be fitted into the preferred location at Borssele, and to develop a more detailed estimate of the costs and time required to build the two new units. The possible impact on the environment was also highlighted in the studies. In November 2024, Amentum was selected to review and advise on the studies submitted by the three potential reactor vendors.
In March last year, the Dutch nuclear regulator - the Authority for Nuclear Safety and Radiation Protection - announced that a review of the feasibility studies submitted by the three vendors suggests that all three designs would meet necessary safety requirements, although KHNP withdrew from the process. The government is establishing the state-owned NEO NL - with the Ministry of Climate and Green Growth as the sole shareholder - to contract with the builder of the new reactors, which it will also operate.
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