Poland is preparing to lead Europe in a new era of clean energy. State-run energy company Orlen announced that the country’s first small modular nuclear reactor (SMR) will be built in Włocławek. The project will also be the first of its kind in Europe.

Orlen revealed that the reactor will be based on the BWRX-300 model, a design developed in the United States by GE Vernova Hitachi Nuclear Energy. The company described this model as the most advanced SMR project currently available worldwide.

“Europe’s first small BWRX-300 nuclear power plant will be built in Poland: we are building the energy of tomorrow,” Orlen CEO Ireneusz Fąfara said in a press release.

The decision was made following an agreement between Orlen and Synthos Green Energy. Together, they will form a joint venture called Orlen Synthos Green Energy (OSGE) to manage the construction and operation of the reactors. Both firms will hold an equal 50 percent stake in the joint venture.

A joint venture to bring US technology to Poland

The agreement contains two major elements. First, it amends the company’s articles of association and shareholder agreement to give equal rights to both partners while ensuring that Orlen has more control over strategic matters. A steering committee will oversee the deal’s implementation and operational decisions.

Second, OSGE has secured full access to the BWRX-300 reactor technology from the United States. This includes the Standard Design package developed for licensing and deployment. Orlen highlighted that this agreement puts the company at the forefront of global SMR development.

“This will allow the project to proceed towards the construction of Poland’s first SMR facility, located in Włocławek – a site of strategic importance for Orlen,” the company said. A special purpose vehicle controlled by Orlen will be in charge of delivering the project.

According to Fąfara, “This reflects the essence of decision by the Orlen Group Supervisory Board, which approved the agreement. We spent over a year negotiating terms that safeguard Orlen’s interests, securing for our joint venture with Synthos direct access to US SMR technology that will enable the project’s delivery.”

Poland’s plan to move away from coal

Poland has long depended on coal for energy production, but the government has been pushing to transition toward low-carbon alternatives. In 2019, households in Poland consumed about 87 percent of all coal used in homes across the European Union, according to Forum Energii.

In 2023, the country approved the construction of 24 small modular reactors at six different locations. Włocławek was one of the sites chosen for geological surveys alongside Ostrołęka, Stawy Monowskie, Dąbrowa Górnicza, Nowa Huta, and the Tarnobrzeg Special Economic Zone.

The Ministry of Climate and Environment issued decisions-in-principle for all six locations in December 2023. By February this year, Poland’s General Director for Environmental Protection approved the scope of environmental studies for Włocławek and Ostrołęka, allowing Orlen and Synthos Green Energy to begin detailed research.

The BWRX-300: a new generation of nuclear technology

The BWRX-300 is a 300 MWe water-cooled, natural circulation reactor designed with passive safety systems. It is based on the ESBWR boiling water reactor, which is already certified by the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission. The design also uses GNF2 nuclear fuel, which is already licensed.

GE Vernova Hitachi Nuclear Energy says this combination allows the BWRX-300 to be delivered faster and at lower cost while providing reliable, carbon-free power. Orlen emphasized that this technology positions Poland as a leader in deploying the next generation of nuclear power in Europe.

Canada is also moving forward with this design. In May, Ontario approved construction of a BWRX-300 at the Darlington site, which is considered a reference project for the Polish program.

Orlen plans to have at least two small modular reactors with a combined capacity of 0.6 gigawatts operational by 2035. The Włocławek project will be the first step toward that goal and a turning point in Poland’s effort to reduce dependence on coal.