Companies from 11 European countries are joining forces to work on the development of the small BWRX-300 reactor in the European Union (EU). OSGE and partners have requested the European Industrial Alliance for SMRs to create a special working group.
Poland’s Orlen Synthos Green Energy (OSGE) in cooperation with 17 companies from 10 EU member states and Norway submitted an application to create a working group dedicated to the implementation of BWRX-300 technology. The project working group will operate under the European Industrial Alliance for SMR, which was established by the European Commission in February this year.
The BWRX-300 is a 300 MWe water-cooled, natural circulation SMR with passive safety systems that leverages the design and licensing basis of Ge Hitachi’s (GEH’s) ESBWR, which has US Nuclear Regulatory Commission certification. As a result of design simplification, GEH claims the BWRX-300 will require significantly less capital cost per MW compared with other SMR designs. GEH says the BWRX-300 is being designed to reduce construction and operating costs below other nuclear power generation technologies. It will leverage a combination of existing fuel, plant simplifications, proven components as well as a design based on an already licensed reactor.
“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 participate significantly in construction, including the production of key components within the Union,” said Rafał Kasprów, President of the Management Board of OSGE. A dedicated working group of 18 companies confirms the great interest in 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 more entities interested in joining the group.”
The Alliance, which, as of 30 May, had 255 members, aims to facilitate and accelerate the development, demonstration and implementation of this technology in the EU in the early 2030s. The Alliance works to improve conditions conducive to the development and implementation of SMRs, including the reconstruction of the supply chain for nuclear power. The activities are aimed at supporting specific SMR projects and accelerating their implementation on the European market.
The application for the creation of a working group was prepared by OSGE in cooperation with GEH and with 16 members of the alliance from 11 countries. All partners are interested in developing or participating in the development of BWRX-300 in Europe at various levels. Everyone has 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.
Partners who will participate in the BWRX-300 working group are:
The working group aims to coordinate and accelerate efforts to build BWRX-300 reactors in various EU member states. The specific objectives include:
- standardisation of the technology licensing process in EU countries;
- maximising the share of EU suppliers in the supply chain (joint development of a solid European supply chain), including preparation for the production of nuclear fuel;
- building necessary competences, preparing staff; and
- creating an appropriate support system for this type of investment.
“International cooperation is the key to the successful implementation of new nuclear technologies,” said Sean Sexstone, Executive Vice President for Advanced Nuclear Technologies at GEH. “Companies that form a working group focusing on BWRX-300 bring a number of experiences and knowledge, which will help accelerate the development of our SMR technology in the EU and around the world.”
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 State Atomic Energy Agency (PAA) regarding selected technical assumptions for the BWRX-300 reactor technology. This is part of the pre-license process.
In December 2023, Poland’s Ministry of Climate & Environment issued basic decisions for the implementation of investments in six locations. In February 2024. The General Director for Environmental Protection (GDOŚ) issued a decision determining the scope of the environmental report for the construction of a SMR in the Monowski Ponds in the Lesser Poland Voivodeship. This is the first such decision in the European Union.
The alliance capitalises on the work and experience acquired over the last two years in the framework of the European SMR pre-partnership. This resulted in the publication of five reports in July 2023 on market integration and deployment, licencing, financing, supply chain adaptation, and research & innovation.
