The Ministry has approved plans for Rolls‑Royce’s SMR reactors in Poland.

The Ministry of Climate and Environment has approved the plan to build a nuclear power plant based on Rolls‑Royce’s small modular reactor (SMR). The application was submitted by the Świętokrzyska Industrial Group INDUSTRIA S.A. in December of last year. The 470 MWe plant will also include a spent nuclear fuel storage facility.

The investment has been deemed consistent with Poland’s energy and climate policy and in the public interest. The application received positive opinions from the Head of the Internal Security Agency and the Minister of State Assets.

First step

In principle, the decision is the first step in the administrative process, allowing Industria to apply for further permits, such as a siting decision or a construction permit.

Alan Woods, Director of Strategy and Business Development at Rolls‑Royce SMR, expressed satisfaction with the Polish ministry’s decision, emphasizing that it enables further discussions on deploying Rolls‑Royce SMR units in Poland. Poland is one of the key export markets for this technology, which is expected to provide a competitive advantage for the Rolls‑Royce SMR project.

Industria selected Rolls‑Royce SMR technology as part of efforts to achieve the zero‑emission energy goals of the Central Hydrogen Cluster. Planned production of low‑emission hydrogen is expected to reach 50,000 tonnes per year. In July 2023, Industria signed a letter of intent with the Kostrzyn‑Słubice Special Economic Zone (KSSSE) regarding the potential siting of the SMR plant within KSSSE areas.

Other SMR projects

The Ministry of Climate and Environment has previously issued Fundamental Decisions for other nuclear projects in Poland. In July last year, it approved KGHM Polska Miedź S.A.’s plan to build a NuScale VOYGR plant with a capacity of 462 MWe.

In December, the ministry approved the plans of Orlen Synthos Green Energy to build SMR power plants using BWRX‑300 reactors at six locations.

Source: gov.pl