OSGE and a development agency have signed an agreement for a Polish SMR project.

Poland's Orlen Synthos Green Energy has entered into a letter of intent with the Industrial Development Agency to work together on preparing for the construction and operation of small modular reactors at the Strategic Investment Park in Stalowa Wola.

The project will be executed through the investment arm of the special-purpose vehicle BWRX-300 Stalowa Wola sp zoo, whose representatives also signed the letter of intent.

Orlen Synthos Green Energy (OSGE) stated that this letter of intent serves as "the starting point for developing an investment agreement" with the Industrial Development Agency (ARP), which manages the Tarnobrzeg Special Economic Zone Euro-Park Wisłosan. OSGE aims to construct a power plant utilizing GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy's BWRX-300 small modular reactors (SMRs). "Both parties recognize the potential for collaboration involving ARP as an investor in the special purpose vehicle executing the project in Stalowa Wola, with the final investment decision dependent on a mutual agreement regarding transaction terms."

OSGE, a joint venture of chemical manufacturers SGE and PKN Orlen, plans to establish the SMRs at the Euro-Park Stalowa Wola Strategic Investment Park, a nearly 1,000-hectare area within the Tarnobrzeg Special Economic Zone Euro-Park Wisłosan. This zone, overseen by ARP, includes 35 counties and 261 municipalities in the Podkarpackie, Lublin, and Masovian Voivodeships. Euro-Park Stalowa Wola targets industrial investments that support the advancement and implementation of modern technologies in energy, electromobility, transport, hydrogen, aviation, and automotive sectors. Energy supply demands from Euro-Park Stalowa Wola investors are projected to reach up to 1,500 MW by 2030.

In coordination with Stalowa Wola's city authorities and based on analyses, OSGE has pinpointed two sites within the Euro-Park Stalowa Wola Strategic Investment Park. They are finalizing applications for an environmental permit and to outline the scope of an environmental impact report with the General Director for Environmental Protection (GDOŚ). The preliminary decision allows for the construction of up to four units featuring BWRX-300 reactors.

"This will represent a significant technological advancement, thanks to the latest nuclear technologies and associated investments like a data center," said Rafał Kasprów, president of OSGE's Management Board.

"The green transformation of Polish industry is not merely an obligation, but a vital opportunity for our nation to secure a favorable position in the future economy," remarked Bartłomiej Babuśka, President of the Industrial Development Agency. "This future is oriented towards zero-emission and stable energy, with small modular reactor technology being a crucial element driving its success. Therefore, the Industrial Development Agency is actively involved in initiatives that will bolster the country's energy security and lay the groundwork for technological innovation at Euro-Park Stalowa Wola."

Krzysztof Telega, Vice-President of the Industrial Development Agency, stated: "As an active investor, we are highly interested in any serious project that brings us closer to our vision of a sovereign, independent, and green energy sector. Partnering with OSGE to construct modular SMR reactors in Stalowa Wola is a significant step in the evolution of our special economic zone and a cornerstone of security for investors already planning their future here."

OSGE aims to deploy a fleet of GE Hitachi BWRX-300 reactors in Poland. In May 2023, the company received a favorable general opinion from the President of the National Atomic Energy Agency regarding the selected technical aspects of the BWRX-300 reactor technology, marking a step in the pre-licensing process. In December 2023, the Ministry of Climate and Environment granted principle decisions for the investment across six locations: Stawy Monowskie, Włocławek, Ostrołęka, Dąbrowa Górnicza, Kraków-Nowa Huta, and Stalowa Wola-Tarnobrzeg.

The BWRX-300 is a 300 MWe water-cooled, natural circulation SMR equipped with passive safety systems that builds on the design and licensing framework of GEH's US Nuclear Regulatory Commission-certified ESBWR boiling water reactor design and its licensed GNF2 fuel design. GEH claims this unique combination positions it to provide "innovative, carbon-free baseload power generation" within this decade.

The first BWRX-300 is currently being built at Ontario Power Generation's Darlington site in Canada, with completion expected by the end of the decade.