Poland is taking significant strides in its nuclear energy sector by collaborating with Ontario Power Generation (OPG) and Synthos Green Energy to deploy Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) across the country. The North American collaboration has now been cemented with a Letter of Intent (LoI) between OPG and its new joint venture Synthos Green Energy. Jointly, they intend to deploy at least 24 GE Hitachi Vernova BWRX-300 reactors. The first of these reactors is scheduled to enter operation by 2030, producing enough electricity to supply an estimated 300,000 homes.
On behalf of OSGE, CEO Rafał Kasprów said he’s very optimistic about this project and the need to bolster Canadian expertise. “Benefiting from Canadians’ expertise allows us to feel confident in building the first SMR reactor in Poland,” he stated. This collaboration further demonstrates Poland’s determination to improve its energy security through the adoption of advanced nuclear technology.
Investment in Engineering Center
In a thrilling show of support, GE Hitachi Vernova (GVH) intends to invest $50 million. They plan to set up a global engineering and service center for the BWRX-300 SMR in Ontario by June 2025. This facility will be built within the Durham region, adjacent to the Darlington New Nuclear Project (DNNP) site.
The need for the center is contingent on successfully designing and building three more units on the DNNP site. We can’t move ahead until we get those units built. This investment demonstrates GVH’s significant vested interest in continuing to develop its SMR technology. In addition, it underlines their commitment to promote its further deployment on international markets, Poland included.
Laurentis Energy Partners, a subsidiary of OPG, has obtained a $40 million contract with OSGE. They are planning on doing the first preliminary safety analysis report for the BWRX-300 SMRs in 2024. This analysis is an important first step toward making sure that the technology is safe and compliant with existing safety and regulatory frameworks.
Deployment Across Poland
GEH’s BWRX-300 SMR technology is a close parallel to that being deployed by OPG at its DNNP site. The deployment plan pins the order of six small modular reactors to be installed at six separate locations in Poland. This strategy is key to diversifying the country’s energy mix and reducing carbon emissions.
The first of these smaller reactors, called BWRX-300s, is slated to connect to the grid by 2030. We hope to finish immediate follow-on units by the mid-2030s, but that’s predicated on regulatory approvals. Nicolle Butcher, OPG president and CEO, remarked on the significance of this collaboration: “With many decades safely operating nuclear power generation, and our leadership on SMRs, jurisdictions are looking to OPG and Ontario as they advance new nuclear power as a solution for their energy security needs.”
