Hitachi Group and ORLEN Synthos Green Energy Strengthen Collaboration in Technological Solutions for SMRs

Establishment of strategic collaboration in Poland between Hitachi Group and ORLEN Synthos Green Energy enables the utilization of modern and proven technological solutions in implementing the BWRX-300 reactor fleet in Poland. The actions and partnership of both companies represent an opportunity for innovation development and increasing the local content share in the construction of SMRs.

The regional headquarters of Hitachi Group – Hitachi Europe Ltd. Branch in Poland – has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with ORLEN Synthos Green Energy, under which both companies pave the way for strategic collaboration in the application of the latest technological solutions and services in nuclear energy. The direct collaboration is going to focus on ‘non-nuclear’ scope and is expected to include next-generation products and systems for power generation, IT solutions and services, including EAM systems, cybersecurity systems and services, and software engineering services. In the field of nuclear technologies, OSGE cooperates with GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy, based on the BWRX-300 reactor technology.

With a long-standing presence in the Polish market, local factories, and research and development centers employing a specialized workforce of several thousand employees, as well as collaboration with the energy and financial sectors, are pillars on which Hitachi’s operations in Poland are based. With a series of completed investments in both power generation and transmission and distribution networks, Hitachi not only serves but also shapes the direction of the energy sector’s development in the country. All of this is centered around the mission of creating innovative solutions that respond to the challenges of the profound transformation of the energy sector. Moreover, for over 18 years, Hitachi has been one of the leading IT companies in the Polish market, providing IT infrastructure systems, platforms for digitizing documentation, EAM systems, cybersecurity services, and software development services.

– Collaboration with ORLEN Synthos Green Energy holds strategic importance for the entire Hitachi Group. We aim to be part of the green transformation in Polish energy and see OSGE as a leader in this change. In our partnership, we intend to leverage not only our global experience in nuclear energy but also our local presence and years of expertise in digitization and energy transmission – said Tadeusz Woszczyński, Country Manager for Poland, Austria, and Central-Eastern Europe at Hitachi Europe Ltd.

ORLEN Synthos Green Energy plans to construct a fleet of GE Hitachi’s BWRX-300 reactors in Poland. The comprehensive approach to the project requires building the entire supply chain necessary for the investment’s realization. This encompasses not only the reactor and other key elements such as turbines and generators but also a range of components and installations essential during the construction phase and subsequent operation of the nuclear power plant in accordance with the highest safety standards. The company, in collaboration with technology supplier GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy, estimates that over half of the investment expenditures for the construction of BWRX-300 can be spent in Poland.

– In our efforts, we have been consistently striving to maximize the local content participation in the small modular reactor construction project from the outset. Therefore, collaboration with Hitachi is a natural fit. I am confident that the potential of one of the largest companies in the world, combined with the expertise of 6000 Hitachi employees in Poland, will be crucial support for the ambitious project of building small modular reactors in our country – said Rafał Kasprów, CEO at OSGE.

In line with its plans, OSGE is undertaking activities related to technology licensing and environmental procedures. In May 2023, the company received a positive general opinion from the President of the National Atomic Energy Agency (PAA) regarding selected technical assumptions for the BWRX-300 reactor technology. This is part of the pre-licensing process. In December 2023, the Ministry of Climate and Environment issued decisions-in-principle for the implementation of investments in six locations: Włocławek, Ostrołęka, Stawy Monowskie, Dąbrowa Górnicza, Kraków – Nowa Huta and Stalowa Wola – Tarnobrzeg. On February 2 this year, the General Director for Environmental Protection issued the first decision in Poland specifying the scope of the environmental report for the project in Stawy Monowskie.

The collaboration of the Hitachi Group with ORLEN Synthos Green Energy represents a natural step in the development of an efficient and sustainable energy sector in Poland. Two significant market entities with diverse experience and expertise are joining forces to provide customers with the latest technologies and solutions. The partnership focuses on concentrated efforts in innovative projects that will shape the future of the energy sector.

About Hitachi Europe:
Hitachi Europe Ltd. (HEU) is a subsidiary of Hitachi Ltd., headquartered in Stoke Poges, United Kingdom. The company focuses its activities on the Social Innovation Business by delivering innovations that address the needs of society. HEU and its affiliated companies offer a wide range of information and telecommunications systems, including railway systems, energy and industrial systems, industrial components and equipment, automotive systems, digital media, consumer products, and more. They operate and have their own research and development laboratories in the EMEA region.
More information: www.hitachi.eu

Hitachi Europe Branch in Poland (HEU Polska) serves as the regional headquarters in Central and Eastern Europe, covering Poland, Austria, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and the Baltic countries. HEU Polska is a significant provider to the Polish financial and energy sectors, offering services such as data storage systems, paperless systems, EAM systems, ticketing systems, energy consumption optimization systems, SPS systems for energy, cybersecurity services, software development, and regulatory solutions (durable medium, MiFID2). The Polish team of Hitachi Europe solved the durable medium information storage issue by developing and introducing to the market a solution based on WORM matrices in 2017.
More information: www.hitachi.pl

About OSGE:
ORLEN Synthos Green Energy (OSGE) It is a company established by ORLEN S.A. and Synthos Green Energy S.A. The firm plays a leading role in implementing modular nuclear reactors in Poland, aiming to contribute to the efficient decarbonization of the power industry, district heating, and industrial sectors. OSGE’s mission is to build a fleet of BWRX-300 reactors from the American-Japanese company GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy, which will become a significant part of the country’s energy mix, providing households and industries with stable, zero-emission electrical energy.

Media contacts:

Dorota Sacewicz
+48 784 815 998
dorota.sacewicz@hitachi-eu.com

Mariusz Ilnicki
+48 668 48 36 73
mariusz.ilnicki@osge.com