Site of Poland's first SMR selected

Włocławek was one of six locations shortlisted by Orlen Synthos Green Energy (OSGE) in 2023 for further geological surveys to host SMR plants based on GE Vernova Hitachi Nuclear Energy's (GEVH's) BWRX-300, for which it holds the exclusive rights in Poland. The other locations were: Ostrołęka, Stawy Monowskie, Dąbrowa Górnicza, Nowa Huta and the Tarnobrzeg Special Economic Zone.

The Ministry of Climate and Environment issued decisions-in-principle for the six plants in December 2023. In February this year, Poland's General Director for Environmental Protection issued the scope of the environmental reports for the proposed SMR projects in Włocławek and Ostrołęka, enabling OSGE to begin environmental and siting research at the two sites.

Orlen and Synthos Green Energy have also signed an agreement on their OSGE joint venture consisting of two key components.

The first is a revised version of the company’s articles of association and shareholder agreement, under which Orlen and Synthos Green Energy each hold a 50% equity stake. The amendments ensure equal rights for both shareholders and strengthen Orlen's control over strategic corporate matters. The amended articles of association also introduce a steering committee, responsible for oversight and management of the agreement's implementation, as well as decision-making on operational matters concerning OSGE and the special purpose vehicles established to deliver subsequent reactor projects.

The second component is a licensing agreement that grants OSGE full access to the BWRX-300 reactor technology (Standard Design) developed in the USA. "This will allow the project to proceed towards the construction of Poland's first SMR facility, located in Włocławek – a site of strategic importance for Orlen," said Orlen. "A special purpose vehicle controlled by the concern will be responsible for its construction."

Orlen noted that access to the BWRX-300 technology "places OSGE - and by extension, Orlen - at the forefront of the global deployment of small modular reactors".

"Poland will host the first BWRX-300 small modular reactor in Europe," said Ireneusz Fąfara, president of the management board of Orlen. "We are building the energy system of tomorrow. This reflects the essence of decision by the Orlen Group Supervisory Board, which approved the agreement. We spent over a year negotiating terms that safeguard Orlen's interests, securing for our joint venture with Synthos direct access to US SMR technology that will enable the project's delivery."

The BWRX-300 is a 300 MWe water-cooled, natural circulation SMR with passive safety systems that leverages the design and licensing basis of GEVH's US Nuclear Regulatory Commission-certified ESBWR boiling water reactor design and its existing, licensed GNF2 fuel design, a unique combination that GEVH says positions it to deliver an "innovative, carbon-free baseload power generation source" this decade. In May, the Canadian province of Ontario approved the construction of the first BWRX-300 at Ontario Power Generation's Darlington site, which is a reference project for OSGE.