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 in Washington at a ceremony attended by US Deputy Secretary of Energy James Danly, Polish Energy Minister Miłosz Motyka, Polish Government Plenipotentiary for Strategic Energy Infrastructure and Deputy Energy Minister Wojciech Wrochna, as well as representatives from GVH, OSGE and SGE, a European SMR development platform founded in 2018 and based in Warsaw.
The BWRX-300 is a 300 MWe water-cooled, natural circulation SMR with passive safety systems that leverages the design and licensing basis of the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission-certified ESBWR boiling water reactor design and its existing, licensed GNF2 fuel design. GVH’s first BWRX-300 is under construction at Ontario Power Generation’s Darlington site in Canada, with completion expected by 2030.
OSGE will now invest in the development of a detailed BWRX-300 design that will serve as a broader reference design for SMR projects in Poland. “This investment by OSGE is a game-changer for the future of nuclear energy in Poland,” said GVH CEO Jason Cooper. “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.”
US Deputy Energy Secretary James Danly said the agreement sends a strong signal that the US commitment to Poland’s energy security remains steadfast. “The Intergovernmental Agreement with Poland anchors our civil nuclear cooperation and provides a valuable framework to foster public-private partnerships strengthened today.”
Polish Energy Minister Miłosz Motyka said: “Poland has the potential to become a European leader in SMR technology. 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 NPPs and SMR 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.”
Polish Deputy Energy Minister Wojciech Wrochna said the agreement is of strategic importance for Poland’s energy transition. “The generic design constitutes the cornerstone for building a standardised reactor fleet under a repeatable deployment model. Standardisation 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.”
According to OSGE CEO Rafał Kasprów said the agreement provides for the design of a NPP in accordance with Polish regulations. “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 standardisation 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.”
SGE, formerly known as Synthos Green Energy is a private Polish clean energy company based in Warsaw that acts as a development platform for SMRs across Europe. SGE was established in 2018 to deploy zero-emission energy solutions, specifically targeting the decarbonisation of Poland’s energy-intensive industrial and heating sectors. In 2022, SGE formed a 50/50 joint venture with the Polish state-controlled energy giant ORLEN. OSGE is the primary vehicle for deploying a fleet of SMRs within Poland.
Currently, SGE is establishing partnerships and projects in more than a half-dozen European countries, the flagship projects being in Poland. OSGE has identified three priority sites for the first units: Włocławek, Ostrołęka, and Stawy Monowskie. The company aims to have the first BWRX-300 operational near Włocławek by 2032. The broader plan involves constructing up to 24 reactors across six potential sites in Poland by the early 2030s. SGE plans to expand its SMR business beyond Poland into other Central and Eastern European countries, including Slovakia, the Czech Republic, and Lithuania.
SGE is part of the MS Galleon Group, a privately held industrial conglomerate owned by Michał Sołowow, one of Poland’s wealthiest investors. The group also owns the chemical producer Synthos, which would be a primary user of the zero-emission electricity and heat produced by SMRs.
