A group of 18 European companies, led by Poland's Orlen Synthos Green Energy (OSGE), has applied to the European Industrial Alliance for Small Modular Reactors to establish a working group dedicated to the implementation of GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy's BWRX-300 technology.

A rendering of a BWRX-300 plant (Image: GE Hitachi)

The application for the creation of the working group was prepared by OSGE in cooperation with GE Hitachi and 16 alliance members from 10 EU Member States and Norway. All partners are interested in developing or participating in the development process of the BWRX-300 in Europe at various levels. "All have many years of experience in the energy market, acting as developers, energy companies, design and engineering companies with competences to build the necessary supply chain," OSGE said.

The working group aims to coordinate and accelerate efforts to construct BWRX-300 SMR reactors by members of the European Industrial Alliance for SMRs in different EU Member States. The specific objectives cover a wide range of issues, in particular: standardisation of the technology licensing process in EU countries; maximising the participation of EU suppliers in a jointly developed robust European supply chain, including preparation for nuclear fuel production; building the necessary competences, preparing staff; and creating an appropriate support system for this type of investment.

In response to calls from the nuclear industry, research community and nuclear safety regulators, European Commissioner for Energy Kadri Simson announced in November last year that the European Commission would establish an Industrial Alliance dedicated to SMRs. It was established in February this year with the aim of facilitating and accelerating the development, demonstration and deployment of this technology in the EU in the early 2030s.

The partners that will participate in the BWRX-300 working group (Image: OSGE)

The Alliance works through working groups to improve the conditions for the development and deployment of SMRs, including rebuilding the supply chain for nuclear power. The activities aim to support specific SMR projects and accelerate their deployment on the European market.

OSGE plans to build a fleet of GE Hitachi BWRX-300 reactors in Poland. In May 2023, the company received a positive general opinion from the President of the National Atomic Energy Agency regarding selected technical assumptions for the BWRX-300 reactor technology. This is an element of the pre-licensing process. In December, the Ministry of Climate and Environment issued decisions in principle for the implementation of the investment in six locations: Stawy Monowskie, Włocławek, Ostrołęka, Dąbrowa Górnicza, Kraków-Nowa Huta and Stalowa Wola-Tarnobrzeg. In February 2024, the General Director for Environmental Protection issued a decision defining the scope of the environmental report for the construction of a SMR in Stawy Monowskie in the Małopolska province. This is the first such decision in the European Union.

The BWRX-300 is a 300 MWe water-cooled, natural circulation SMR with passive safety systems that leverages the design and licensing basis of GEH's US Nuclear Regulatory Commission-certified ESBWR boiling water reactor design and its existing, licensed GNF2 fuel design, a unique combination that GEH says positions it to deliver an "innovative, carbon-free baseload power generation source" this decade.

"The BWRX-300 not only has the potential to be the first SMR reactor to be built in the EU, but also creates opportunities for European companies to significantly participate in its construction, including the production of key components in the EU," said Rafał Kasprów, president of the Management Board of OSGE. "A dedicated working group of 18 companies confirms the strong interest in the BWRX-300 technology from European entities. I believe that among the members of the European Industrial Alliance for SMR, which is still open to new participants, there will be other entities interested in joining the group."

Sean Sexstone, executive vice president of advanced nuclear technologies at GEH, added: "International collaboration is key to the successful implementation of new nuclear technologies. The companies in the BWRX-300 working group bring a range of experience and knowledge that will help accelerate the development of our SMR technology in the EU and around the world."

Researched and written by World Nuclear News