Ontario Power Generation (OPG) and Orlen Synthos Green Energy (OSGE) have signed a letter of intent (LOI) to collaborate on the deployment of small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs) in Poland. This agreement allows OPG to offer pre-deployment, operational, maintenance, and other vital services as Poland moves forward with its SMR initiative.
The LOI, signed in Warsaw, builds on a previous agreement made in June 2023. Poland’s government plans to construct up to 24 GE Hitachi Vernova Nuclear (GVH) BWRX-300 reactors. This technology mirrors what OPG is currently developing at its Darlington New Nuclear Project (DNNP) site in Ontario. The reactors will be installed at six different locations throughout Poland.
This agreement marks a foundational step in developing and operating BWRX-300 SMRs in Poland. It establishes a long-term partnership between Ontario and Poland, which aims to leverage Ontario’s nuclear supply chain while supporting Poland’s objective to enhance clean energy generation and achieve energy independence.
OPG will contribute through various pre-operations services, including site assessments, project management, licensing strategies, and advisory assistance, all aimed at bolstering Poland’s clean energy infrastructure.
Key details of the agreement include: – OPG is in the process of constructing the first commercial grid-scale SMR in the G7, with completion of the initial BWRX-300 reactor expected by the end of this decade. This reactor will generate enough electricity to power approximately 300,000 homes. – The remaining three reactors are anticipated to be completed in the mid-2030s, pending regulatory approvals. – Ontario’s nuclear supply chain is robust, with over eighty local companies already engaged in contracts with OPG to support the SMR project, positioning them as key players in both domestic and global nuclear markets. – Synthos Green Energy and ORLEN formed the joint venture OSGE in 2022 to facilitate the deployment of BWRX-300 SMRs in Poland. This LOI solidifies the ongoing relationship between OPG and OSGE. – In 2024, OPG’s subsidiary Laurentis Energy Partners secured a $40 million contract with OSGE to develop a Preliminary Safety Analysis Report (PSAR) on the SMRs. – OPG, OSGE, GE Vernova Hitachi, and the Tennessee Valley Authority are collaborating on the technical aspects of the BWRX-300 design, focusing on critical components such as the reactor pressure vessel and internals.
This collaboration aligns with Poland’s strategy to expand its nuclear energy capabilities and meet growing energy demands while enhancing energy security.
