Synthos Green Energy to assess feasibility of Micro Modular Reactor

4 November 2020


Poland’s Synthos Green Energy (SGE) has signed a cooperation agreement with US-based Ultra Safe Nuclear Corporation (Photo: USNC)Poland’s Synthos Green Energy (SGE) has signed a cooperation agreement with US-based Ultra Safe Nuclear Corporation (USNC) to assess the feasibility of the Micro Modular Reactor and the MMR Energy System to generate hydrogen, heat, and power.

The agreement is the latest step in Synthos Green Energy’s strategy to generate zero carbon emissions at its facilities. It proposes using the MMR Energy System to replace existing coal or natural gas stations at Synthos’s chemical plants in Poland and other EU countries. .

“We’re committed to identifying leading technologies capable of being deployed in the near term that will enable us to lower and eventually eliminate the carbon footprint of our manufacturing facilities and increase competitiveness of our companies,” said Michal Solowow, owner of Synthos S.A. Capital Group. Synthos operates 18 production plants in eight countries.

He added: “The Ultra Safe Nuclear approach is uniquely suited to our needs as its MMR is exceptionally elegant and safe, enabling us to implement our decarbonization strategy and ultimately make Synthos more competitive.”

USNC said it is partnering with multiple, global industrial heavyweights including Hyundai Engineering Company to develop and deliver high-efficiency power, heat, and hydrogen-generation capabilities. The 15MWt (5MWe) MMR is a high-temperature, gas-cooled reactor that uses Fully Ceramic Micro-encapsulated (FCM™) fuel and can be operated in power and heat island modes.

USNC and SGE have jointly applied to the Polish Ministry of Development for project financing from the IPCEI mechanism (Important Projects of Common European Interest) for projects within the scope of the value chain of hydrogen technologies and systems, it added.

The goal of the joint project is the development of an “economically efficient, zero-emission, high-temperature heat and power source for the production of hydrogen on an industrial scale,” USNC said. The efficiency of the cogeneration system is expected to be about 80-85%, which exceeds the efficiency of renewable energy sources in the electrolysis process by 25-30%, USNC added.

“The design of the MMR units is extremely simple and the Energy System power plant is tailor-made for the industrial applications of Synthos,” said Francesco Venneri, CEO, Ultra Safe Nuclear Corporation. “Our micro modular reactor and power plant can be operational in a matter of months after start of construction, quickly and safely delivering hydrogen, heat, and power that will make Synthos more competitive and environmentally friendly,” he added. 

The agreement with USNC follows a similar agreement with GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy on to explore possible deployment of the 300MWe water-cooled SRM. In August 2020, Synthos Green concluded an agreement to become a Strategic Partner of GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy (GEH) for the development and construction of the BWRX-300 small modular reactor. SGE also announced it has started regulatory dialogue with the to Polish National Atomic Energy Agency with respect to GEH’s BWRX-300 small modular reactor (SMR).


Photo: Poland’s Synthos Green Energy (SGE) has signed a cooperation agreement with US-based Ultra Safe Nuclear Corporation to assess the feasibility of the Micro Modular Reactor (Photo: USNC)



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