EDF subsidiary Arabelle Solutions has been selected by Bechtel and Westinghouse Electric Company to supply three half-speed Arabelle steam turbine and generator sets for the AP1000 reactor project planned for Poland’s first NPP. The decision was confirmed by Polskie Elektrownie Jądrowe (PEJ), the Polish state-owned company that is implementing the project at the Choczewo site in Pomerania.
Arabelle Solutions will supply steam turbine and generator systems to all three units of the nuclear power plant, as well as the main supporting equipment necessary for the proper functioning of the steam circuit. This is a key element of the power plant’s operating system, where heat from the reactor turns water into steam that drives a turbine and generator, thereby generating electricity.
PEJ said this is an important milestone in the implementation of the project and proof of the strong partnership necessary to build the first nuclear power plant in Poland. “Arabelle Solutions brings a wealth of experience gathered in projects in this part of Europe and will create ample opportunities for Polish manufacturers to participate in the project. At the same time, we are very proud to apply Bechtel’s world-class knowledge and experience in construction to jointly support Poland’s energy transformation.”
In November 2022, the then Polish government selected Westinghouse AP1000 reactor technology for the NPP, to be built at the Lubiatowo-Kopalino site in the Choczewo municipality in Pomerania. An agreement setting a plan for the delivery of the plant was signed in May 2023 by Westinghouse, Bechtel and PEJ. In September 2023, an engineering development agreement (EDA) was signed with Westinghouse and Bechtel to finalise a site-specific design for the three-unit NPP.
The EDA was amended earlier in January to allow the project schedule to be maintained while continuing negotiations and finalising the engineering, procurement & construction (EPC) contract. In July 2024, the Ministry of Climate & Environment issued a decision-in-principle for PEJ to construct the plant. According to the draft update of the Polish Nuclear Energy Program (PPEJ – Program Polskiej Energetyki Jądrowej) commercial operation of the first unit is to begin in 2036.
“This is an important milestone in the implementation of the project and proof of the strong partnership necessary to build the first nuclear power plant in Poland, said Ed Gore, Director of the Poland AP1000 Project on behalf of Bechtel. “Arabelle Solutions brings a wealth of experience gathered in projects in this part of Europe and will create ample opportunities for Polish manufacturers to participate in the project. At the same time, we are very proud to apply Bechtel’s world-class knowledge and experience in construction to jointly support Poland’s energy transformation.”
Marek Woszczyk, President of the PEJ Management Board, noted: “As a result of a transparent, competitive and extremely demanding purchasing process, a supplier was selected for one of the largest components of the conventional part of our power plant. The procurement process itself, in which PEJ has participated, was based on the highest technical and quality standards. We have chosen a partner that is supported by experience and, above all, reliability and a wide network of suppliers – largely Polish.”
Arabelle Solutions already works with many Polish suppliers on international projects, including manufacturers of equipment dedicated to the company’s steam turbines and generators. The company also supports the development of national nuclear sector staff through a partnership with the Warsaw University of Technology.
“This project reflects both the confidence of our partners and the commitment of our teams to continue their long-standing experience and legacy of innovation to meet the world’s growing energy needs,” said Arabelle Solutions CEO Catherine Cornand. “We strive to further develop the Polish supply chain in cooperation with our AP1000 project partners and through government programs to strengthen the national industrial base and prepare staff with the skills necessary for the future.”
PEJ said Arabelle Solutions was selected after a rigorous purchasing process that assessed both technical and financial criteria. The company will adapt its standard steam turbine design to the requirements of the Choczewo turbine islands, and production of the kits is expected to begin once the EPC contract for the project is finalised.
In total, the half-speed Arabelle steam turbine generator shaftline for the AP1000 NPP will be 68 metres long and includes a combined high/intermediate-pressure module and three double-flow low-pressure modules for improved cycle efficiency. It will be coupled with a hydrogen and water-cooled GIGATOP 4-pole generator synchronised to the 50 Hz Polish grid.
The supply chain for the turbine hall will include specialist providers from Poland: “We aim to further develop the Polish supply chain in cooperation with our AP 1000 partners and Government programs, in order to enhance the industrial base and deliver the skills for the future,” noted Cornand.
Arabelle Solutions has more than 60 years of nuclear industry expertise built on continuous design innovation and manufacturing best-in-class turbine island technology and providing essential services to maintain, maximise and extend the lifetime of nuclear power plants around the world. The company’s integrated solutions span a wide range of equipment, from the most powerful steam turbines currently in operation to modular designs optimised for Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), as well as generators, pumps, heat exchangers, and control systems.
