Doosan Enerbility is expanding its partnership with Thailand’s state-owned energy company GPSC to include next-generation nuclear power technologies, such as small modular reactors (SMRs). The move accelerates its push into Asia’s decarbonization market and is expected to boost exports of carbon-neutral technologies.
According to industry sources on the 14th, GPSC’s board chairperson Sopote Techawarawasin and other executives recently visited Doosan Enerbility’s headquarters in Changwon, South Gyeongsang Province. The delegation reviewed the progress of joint research and development projects on ammonia co-firing and carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS), while also exploring potential collaboration in SMRs.
The delegation inspected the production site of the “core reactor,” a key component of SMR technology. The core reactor is a critical structure that induces and controls nuclear fission reactions inside the reactor, determining the safety and efficiency of SMRs. Through this visit, GPSC comprehensively assessed SMR production processes, market demand, and technological trends. The company plans to strengthen its carbon-neutral solutions value chain by expanding cooperation with relevant firms.
Doosan Enerbility and GPSC first established ties in June last year by signing a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for joint research on ammonia co-firing and CCUS technology. They have been studying the feasibility of applying 20% ammonia co-firing at GPSC’s 700MW Gheco-One coal-fired power plant and introducing CCUS technology. Analysis shows that a 20% ammonia co-firing ratio could reduce carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 700,000 tons annually.
At the time of the MOU signing, the two companies agreed to build a comprehensive partnership for adopting carbon-neutral power generation technologies, including SMRs, offshore wind, and hydrogen. This visit is expected to kickstart full-fledged cooperation in the SMR sector. As part of its 2060 carbon neutrality goal, GPSC aims to establish a stable and sustainable power supply system through partnerships with Korean companies.
GPSC highly evaluated Doosan Enerbility’s capabilities as a frontrunner in SMR technology. The Thai company highlighted Doosan Enerbility’s collaborations with leading global SMR firms such as NuScale, X-energy, and TerraPower, as well as its growing reputation as a global foundry supplying core components.
“South Korea is poised to become a key driver in the global expansion of SMR technology,” GPSC stated. “The country has over 50 years of nuclear power experience and robust institutional infrastructure, backed by technologically advanced companies like Doosan Enerbility.”
