ENEC, ORLEN Synthos to Advance Nuclear Energy for European Power Sector

/ Energy & Power / Tuesday, 12 September 2023 05:37

The Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC) and ORLEN Synthos Green Energy (OSGE) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to support the decarbonization of the Polish and European power sector and industry by looking into opportunities to invest in Small Modular Reactors (SMRs).

ENEC’s expertise, through building and operating the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant, is supporting the growth of nuclear energy as a source of abundant clean electricity to tackle the dual challenges of energy security and climate change, according to an official statement.

Under the arrangement, both parties will work on a framework for developing SMRs based on GE-Hitachi Nuclear Energy’s BWRX-300 SMR technology in Poland and the United Kingdom, as well as within Central and Eastern Europe, to create new clean energy capacity for meeting the growing demand for electricity. The framework agreement was signed by Mohamed Ibrahim Al Hammadi, Managing Director and CEO, ENEC, and Rafał Kasprów, CEO, ORLEN Synthos Green Energy, during the World Nuclear Symposium 2023 in London, UK.

Nuclear energy is recognized by both the UAE and Poland as an essential clean energy resource for safeguarding the stability of the energy sector. OSGE seeks to build a nuclear organization that can meet energy sector challenges through the increased use of advanced nuclear technologies, such as fourth-generation SMRs.

Al Hammadi said, “Globally, there is an urgent need to ramp up nuclear capacity if we are to meet climate goals. We look forward to working with ORLEN Synthos Green Energy to support decarbonization in Poland and other parts of Europe.”

"A partnership with ENEC marks another milestone for ORLEN Synthos Green Energy. I am very excited that our programme to deploy a fleet of BWRX-300 reactors in Poland, CEE and UK is now being supported by such an excellent partner," said Rafał Kasprów.

Playing a significant role in the UAE’s clean energy transition, the Barakah Plant is now one unit away from full-fleet operations and realizing ENEC’s commitment to accelerating decarbonization of the power sector by generating up to 25% of the UAE’s electricity demand.