Orlen Synthos Green Energy (OSGE) has applied to Poland’s Ministry of Energy to establish a state-backed support scheme for a fleet of 14 GE Vernova Hitachi (GVH) BWRX-300 small modular reactors (SMRs) across three target locations. By requesting a Contract for Difference (CfD), OSGE aims to secure a fixed electricity “strike price” to protect the multi-billion-dollar project from market price volatility, guaranteeing revenue stability for individual and industrial consumers alike.
The GVH BWRX-300 is a 300 MWe water-cooled, natural circulation SMR featuring passive safety systems that leverages the design and licensing basis of GVH’s US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)-certified ESBWR boiling water reactor design and its existing, licensed GNF2 fuel design.
The initial 14 units applied for under the support scheme are targeted for Włocławek (central Poland), Stawy Monowskie near Oświęcim (southern Poland), and Stalowa Wola (southeastern Poland). The first BWRX-300 unit is planned for commercial commissioning in 2032 in Włocławek, where a formal cooperation agreement was finalized with the municipality in June.
These 14 units represent the first wave of a massive, long-term programme. OSGE holds decisions-in-principle from the Polish government to eventually construct up to 26 units nationwide. The application marks a critical transition into state-level and international framework building. The Polish government will use OSGE’s application to draft the necessary regulatory documentation to notify and seek state-aid clearance from the European Commission.
The General Director for Environmental Protection (GDOŚ -Generalna Dyrekcja Ochrony Środowiska) has already defined the environmental impact assessment scopes for the Włocławek and Stawy Monowskie locations, while the Stalowa Wola application remains under review. Grid connection conditions have already been officially secured for the Stawy Monowskie site from the national transmission operator, Polskie Sieci Elektroenergetyczne (PSE).
The implementation framework leverages active construction experience from Ontario Power Generation’s Darlington site in Canada, which serves as OSGE’s primary global reference facility.
Government Plenipotentiary for Strategic Energy Infrastructure, Wojciech Wrochna, during his presentation of the updated Polish Nuclear Power Programme (PPEJ) noted that a CfD is a natural instrument of support for SMR projects.
“The National Energy and Climate Plan clearly indicates the development of a support model for small-scale nuclear projects as one of its measures,” he told a press conference. “Based on this, a dedicated support model for SMRs will be prepared, and the SMR roadmap will define available support mechanisms. We know what is available, as the EU state aid rules or EU regulations determine what is possible: namely a Contract for Difference and potentially state guarantees.”
OSGE’s application includes a detailed justification and calculations developed in cooperation with partners experienced in similar applications notified to the European Commission. These include KPMG’s experts from the UK and the Czech Republic (engaged, among others, in preparing notification documentation for the Dukovany II NPP project in the Czech Republic) and ETARA (the Swedish government’s advisors on support instruments for development of new nuclear projects. Following the submission of the application, OSGE expects active cooperation with the government and a swift start of dialogue.
Meanwhile, OSGE is carrying out advanced preparatory activities for the project in Włocławek. Special purpose vehicle BWRX‑300 Włocławek has a basic decision of the Minister of Energy and a decision of the General Director for Environmental Protection defining the scope of the environmental impact report. Environmental and location studies leading to the submission of an application for a building permit are already underway. A local information centre will also be established in the city, which will enable residents to access reliable knowledge about the project and nuclear energy.
