Instrumentation, Control and Electrification in nuclear facilities.

Companies to explore creating a single-vendor solution to enhance safety and performance of nuclear power sector.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between specialist US company Paragon Energy Solutions and ABB has been signed to develop integrated Instrumentation, Control and Electrification solutions for the nuclear power industry in the USA. The collaboration will explore developing a single-vendor solution that covers both critical and non-critical areas of nuclear facilities, to support operations across existing plants and next generation small modular reactors (SMRs).

L-R: Doug VanTassell Paragon CEO, Tilak Pinnamaneni, ABB VP &Head of PAEN,USA)

Under the scope of the MoU, ABB will be able to provide automation, electrification and digital solutions for the non-critical areas of nuclear plants, including control room systems, the electrical auxiliary components of a power plant system known as balance of plant and the ABB UNITROL® excitation system. ABB can also deliver technologies that support asset performance management and cyber security, to enhance overall plant infrastructure and operational efficiency.

“The energy landscape is evolving rapidly, and with the growing demand, ABB is in favor of all low-carbon energy sources including nuclear," said Per Erik Holsten, President of ABB Energy Industries. “The opportunity to innovate and use technology is crucial for success and to support the safe and efficient operation of nuclear facilities. Partnering with Paragon enables us to develop integrated solutions that enhance plant performance and reliability.”

Paragon will focus on critical area systems within a nuclear facility. This includes critical instrumentation and control solutions such as safety automation systems (for example Reactor Protection Systems and Engineered Safety Features Actuation Systems), neutron monitoring, and essential electrical components namely breakers, switchgear and motor control centers. Paragon will also oversee component qualification and dedication to meet rigorous industry standards.

“We are pleased to collaborate with ABB and leverage their deep expertise in automation, electrification and digital solutions,” said Doug VanTassell, President and CEO of Paragon. "As the demand for reliable and low-carbon energy grows, our partnership will help utilities modernize current nuclear infrastructure and support advanced reactors such as next generation SMRs with high-integrity solutions.”

The collaboration is driven by a shared commitment to meet growing energy demands in the USA, particularly in energy-intensive sectors such as data centers and AI infrastructure. The US Department of Energy has announced a $900 million funding initiative for SMRS as part of efforts to advance nuclear energy technologies. SMRs are seen as a solution to data center growth because they offer flexible deployment due to their compact size and modular design.

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