Energy Northwest’s small modular reactor project has moved one step forward with the announcement of the owner’s engineer for the project.

After a qualifications-based selection process, Energy Northwest chose AtkinsRéalis Group Inc. as the owner’s engineer, responsible for supporting the design, licensing, construction and commissioning of the SMR project. 

“Leveraging our well-documented global nuclear design capabilities and exceptional engineering experience, we are excited to be part of the Energy Northwest team for this first of its kind facility in the Pacific Northwest where we’ve been working for many decades,” said Joe St. Julian, president of AtkinsRéalis, Nuclear, in a statement. 

In an agreement with Energy Northwest, Amazon will provide two years of funding for the SMR project, supporting the necessary activities prior to construction, including permit applications. Energy Northwest will build, own and run the reactors, which will use X-energy’s Xe-100 design. 

The SMRs will be located near Energy Northwest’s Columbia Generating Station and will generate a total of 320 megawatts, Energy Northwest said.

Owner’s engineer AtkinsRéalis is an engineering and nuclear company with 40,000 employees around the world. The company’s new AtkinsRéalis Technology Center in Richland, completed in 2024, will help support the work on SMR development.

Energy Northwest started the selection process for the owner’s engineer by asking for statements of qualifications from engineering firms, which were scored based on relative experience, technical expertise, past performance and understanding of project requirements, according to Energy Northwest. 

Shortlisted firms were invited for interviews and presentations, and AtkinsRéalis was selected as the most qualified firm. The company has a history of supporting nuclear and advanced energy developments, Energy Northwest said. 

“AtkinsRéalis possesses extensive technical expertise on developing complex energy projects, which makes them an ideal partner,” said Greg Cullen, vice president for Energy Services & Development at Energy Northwest, in a statement. 

Currently, AtkinsRéalis is working as the architect engineer on the Darlington New Nuclear Project in Ontario, Canada, which will deploy four SMRs, said John Hayfield, senior vice president and general manager for Engineering & Technology AtkinsRéalis US Nuclear, in a statement. The company is also at work on a number of different reactor projects around the world.

AtkinsRéalis’ 32,000-square-foot Technology Center will be the hub for providing resources and technical support for the Energy Northwest project, Hayfield said. Staff working on this project will be located at the $20 million facility, and the building’s testing and commissioning capabilities are also available if needed.

“The owner’s engineer acts as a trusted advisor, validating designs, managing contractors and overseeing construction to ensure quality and efficiency,” said a statement from Energy Northwest. “They also support permitting and regulatory processes, address technical challenges and help mitigate risks.”

There is no specific contract value for AtkinsRéalis’ work, Energy Northwest said, because the contract was established as a Master Service Agreement. That type of agreement allows for flexibility to address project needs, assigning and managing costs at a task level.

“This collaboration not only supports the proposed development of next-generation nuclear technology, but will bring lasting benefits to our region, including job creation, economic growth, and clean, firm and reliable energy,” Cullen said in a statement.

“The future of clean energy must include nuclear power and AtkinsRéalis and Energy Northwest are uniquely positioned to make this vision become a reality,” St. Julian said in a statement.