GE Vernova Hitachi Nuclear Energy (GVH) and Orlen Synthos Green Energy (OSGE) have signed an agreement to advance the Polish generic design of the BWRX-300 small modular reactor (SMR). The Poland Generic Design Agreement (PGDA) was signed during a ceremony today in Washington D.C. Participants included U.S. Deputy Secretary of Energy James Danly, Poland’s Minister of Energy Mi?osz Motyka, Government Plenipotentiary for Strategic Energy Infrastructure and Deputy of Minister of Energy Wojciech Wrochna, as well as representatives from GVH, OSGE and SGE.
Following the contract signature, OSGE will invest in the development of a detailed BWRX-300 design that will serve as a reference design for SMR projects in Poland.
“This agreement sends a strong signal that the U.S. commitment to Poland’s energy security remains steadfast,” U.S. Deputy Secretary James Danly said. “The Intergovernmental Agreement with Poland anchors our civil nuclear cooperation and provides a valuable framework to foster public-private partnerships strengthened today.”
“Poland has the potential to become a European leader in Small Modular Reactor (SMR) technology,” Polish Minister of Energy Mi?osz Motyka said. “A further decisive step toward that objective has just been taken. To ensure a stable, zero-emission power system and predictable market conditions for industry, we are advancing in parallel both large-scale nuclear power plants and small modular reactor technology. SMRs provide critical baseload support for energy-intensive industries, contribute to price stability for end-users, and represent a powerful growth stimulus for the Polish nuclear supply chain. In the context of steadily increasing electricity demand, the deployment of both technologies is essential.”
“This is a decision of strategic importance for Poland’s energy transition,” Polish Secretary of State at the Ministry of Energy Wojciech Wrochna said. “The generic design constitutes the cornerstone for building a standardized reactor fleet under a repeatable deployment model. Standardization translates into lower unit capital expenditures and enhanced cost competitiveness. It also creates a significant opportunity to strengthen domestic industrial capabilities and to secure meaningful participation of Polish companies in the execution of advanced nuclear technology projects.”
“This investment by OSGE is a game-changer for the future of nuclear energy in Poland,” said Jason Cooper, CEO, GVH. “Advancing the generic design of the BWRX-300 to accelerate its deployment in Poland is another example of what can be achieved with shared vision and investment.”
“The agreement concluded today provides for the design of a nuclear power plant in accordance with Polish regulations,” said Rafa? Kasprów, CEO of OSGE. “It will be applicable to the deployment of a fleet of BWRX-300 reactors across multiple locations in Poland. This project approach, which forms a core element of OSGE’s strategy, will enable significant cost reductions through design standardization and the development of a robust supply chain. As a result, it will lower the cost of electricity for the Polish power system and, ultimately, for end consumers.”
Momentum around the BWRX-300 continues to build globally. The first BWRX-300 is under construction at Ontario Power Generation’s Darlington site in Canada, with completion expected by the end of the decade, which will make it the first small modular reactor in the Western world. Key components like the reactor pressure vessel are being manufactured, and site construction is progressing according to plan. The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission has accepted and is reviewing Tennessee Valley Authority’s (TVA) application to construct the first BWRX-300 in the U.S. at the utility’s Clinch River site in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. These developments, and others, support GVH’s progress and leadership in scaling and deploying SMRs commercially to customers around the globe.
