How Poland is showing the way forward to a green economy
Adding new green power to the grid, retrofitting coal plants to eliminate emissions, and decarbonizing the heavy industry. How are they doing it? And will we also get a public bath revival?
They are utilizing nuclear!
You’ll read all about it and get the details, but first a brief summary.
• Building new gigawatt scale nuclear reactors to increase their energy output and create growth.
• Substituting their coal boilers with Small Modular Reactors to take advantage of the recourse and competence they already have.
• Replacing coal as source of industrial heat in their heavy industries with High Temperature Reactors.
Adding electricity supply with gigawatt scale nuclear power
The Polish government has announced plans to boost its power supply by constructing new gigawatt-scale nuclear reactors. The aim is to increase the quality of life for citizens by reducing power bills and freeing up more money for enterprises.
The government selected Westinghouse to build three AP1000 reactors, with the first reactor scheduled to be operational by 2033. Additionally, a private power company, ZE PAK, and the government-owned power company, PGE, are partnering with Korean KHNP to construct their APR1400 gigawatt-scale reactor.
The private Small Modular Reactor developer
Synthos, a chemical company based in Poland, is positioning itself as the country's leading nuclear developer. To achieve this goal, the company has created a subsidiary named Synthos Green Energy, which has secured exclusive rights for the GE Hitachi's BWXR-300 Small Modular Reactor in Poland. Additionally, Synthos has partnered with Ultra Safe Nuclear Corporation to use their high-temperature Micro Modular Reactor for industrial applications such as heat and hydrogen production.
Synthos Green Energy is involved in various interesting projects with partners, including a collaboration with ZE PAK to retrofit a coal power plant into a nuclear power plant by the year 2030. A joint venture with PKN Orlene and a partnership with
Tackling the heavy industries power demand
The metallurgy company KGHM has partnered with SMR developer NuScale and is working towards retrofitting their coal plant to a nuclear power plant by 2029. It remains to be seen whether NuScale's VOYGR or GE Hitachi's BWXR-300 will be the first operational Small Modular Reactor (SMR), with other developers expected to follow in the future.
KGHM is an excellent example of decarbonization and heavy industry. As a copper producer, they play a vital role in supporting a green, sustainable future. Their electrochemical copper purification process requires high amounts of continuous power supply, and any interruption can result in costly restarts, damaged equipment, or even loss of life. Therefore, having an alternative energy source that can provide continuous power always is crucial.
The demand for a reliable and uninterrupted power supply is a common challenge for decarbonizing the heavy industry which often rely on their coal plants. These industries produce products that we depend on, and any disruption in the power supply can have severe consequences. Hence, this is an area where nuclear power can excel in providing a steady and reliable energy source.
The biggest nuclear power plan in history?
The petrochemical company PKN Orlene announced that they plan to build 79 SMRs at 26 of their locations in cooperation with Synthos Green Energy. PKN Orlene who run coal power plants for their own production are not using 79 SMR’s worth of power so we are probably looking at increased power supply for the Polish grid. The details of the plans will be revealed April.
Decarbonizing a coal-based power grid
70% of Poland’s electricity comes from coal. Repurposing all these plants from coal to nuclear is beneficial for the environment and hopefully costs since it can use the same grid connection and talented operators already present at the coal plants. This shift is getting a strong momentum.
Poland's second largest power company, Tauron, which operates nine coal-fired power plants, is closely following KGHM's NuScale project and is partnering with NuScale and KGHM.
Poland's third largest power company, Ena SA, has signed an agreement with the SMR developer Last Energy, who are rumoured to be basing their design on an open-source nuclear reactor.
Energy importer, distributor, and trader Unimot is partnering with NuScale to develop projects that retrofit coal plants to nuclear plants, while energy investor and trader Respect Energy is cooperating with French EDF on their SMR. It will be interesting to see if these partnerships are for financing or buying out smaller actors.
Using nuclear power as a source for heat in industry
While I like repurposing coal plants to nuclear plants, I find application where nuclear power is used to supply heat the most exciting. Like delivering high-temperature steam for high temperature reactors.
[To learn more on the basics and where things are headed become a paid subscriber and access my one pager “Cutting Edge Nuclear” which breaks everything down.]
The process industry is a chemical industry that employs various recipes to create valuable products, often requiring heat as a key ingredient. Industrial heat is usually produced using fossil fuels, but it can be generated using nuclear power in a non-polluting manner.
Synthos and their partnership with Ultra Safe Nuclear Reactor for their Micro Modular Reactor is a good example of the process industry shifting towards non-polluting nuclear heat.
Poland's National Centre for Nuclear Research is partnering with leading high-temperature nuclear reactor experts, Japan Atomic Energy Agency, and UK reactor developer U-Battery, to build a research reactor capable of achieving temperatures around 700 Celsius.
Different temperature ranges require different solutions for industrial heat. PKN Orlen and Groupa Azoty are Poland's largest consumers of industrial heat in the 500 Celsius range. PKN Orlen uses heat for oil refining, while Groupa Azoty produces fertilizer.
For temperatures in the 500 Celsius range, PKN Orlen is partnering with Synthos Green Energy on USNR's Micro Modular Reactor. Meanwhile, Groupa Azoty has participated in High Temperature Reactor work, maybe they opt for U-Battery?
One interesting thing to note about "Micro Modular" and "Battery" reactors is that they are small reactors with long fuel cycles, which makes them simpler to install and operate at existing industrial sites with minimal disruption. This is particularly useful for large and costly facilities where interference in how things work today is to be avoided.
When the temperatures are very high
One major challenge is that some processes require very high temperatures beyond the capability of most high-temperature reactors. For instance, copper smelting at KGHM can reach temperatures up to 1600 degrees Celsius, while PKN Orlene's manufacturing of ethane feedstock requires temperatures around 900 degrees Celsius. While high-temperature reactors may not be able to achieve these temperatures on their own, they can supplement the process with additional heat from fossil fuels or hydrogen.
Feedstock for the Process Industry
Another essential ingredient in the process industry is feedstock, the raw materials used to create products. Since carbon is a fundamental component of many products, it is a crucial feedstock in the chemical industry.
Industria, a leading fertilizer company, has partnered with Rolls Royce SMR to focus on hydrogen production where hydrogen can replace methane from natural gas as an important feedstock eliminating a major source of CO2 emissions.
How?
Ammonia, an important feedstock in fertilizers, vital for growing food on Earth, consists of one nitrogen atom and three hydrogen atoms (NH3). Today, we produce NH3 using the Haber–Bosch process, where the hydrogen atoms are picked of methane (CH4), this creating CO2 as a by-product.
By instead picking the hydrogen atoms from water (H2O) the only biproduct from the reaction is oxygen. The advantage using nuclear with this process are many, one way of doing this is with electrolysis, for that one needs electricity. This process works better when the water has a higher temperature, so it wants heat. There are also different processes that require very high temperatures.
I don’t know what Synthos and Ultra Safe Nuclear Coorperation will use their hydrogen for. But a dream involves their partner PKN Orlene who uses Ethane (C2H6) to produce Ethylene (C2H4) (one feedstock to another feedstock, typical). One could build Ethylene using hydrogen and CO2. That would be a truly circular world where we just burned our stuff when we where done with them, captured the CO2 and smashed Hydrogen++ into them to make new stuff. More on that another time.
Not just the heavy industry that are getting an energy boost
Poland has an early advantage in the European nuclear power push, as they are the first to sign deals and are becoming a hub for nuclear manufacturing and development. Reactor developers like Westinghouse, EDF, and KHNP are all establishing partnerships with Polish companies for their gigawatt reactor projects. Additionally, government-owned business development entity Industria is emphasizing supply chain development with Rolls Royce SMR.
It is also interesting to note that Legnica Special Economic Zone, located near the Czech border, Czechia already being a nuclear manufacturing powerhouse, is planning to deploy nuclear with SMR developer Last Energy and Ultra Safe Nuclear, potentially providing their industry with cheap heat and power.
District heating, where we can all feel the heat.
In Poland, district heating systems that transport hot water per building, block, or town are widely used for heating. It is optimistic to note that there are several solutions available to make use of the nuclear power. For instance, SMRs can redirect some of their power to supply heat for district heating, also known as cogeneration. And as the temperatures and pressure needed are about 1/3 of what the SMR supplies, it can lead to the development of exciting new district heating dedicated designs.
Waste is always a concern.
Electricity-producing reactors have waste heat of around 60 Celsius in the form of water, this can with tips and tricks be utilized for district heating, heating up roads and sidewalks, or even better for recreational purposes, such as building baths at the nuclear outtake for the enjoyment of people living nearby. I’ll go for a little bit of luxury in everyday life.
Conclusion
Poland is doing a lot when it comes to nuclear energy. As an enthusiast I am excited. The broadness both in applications and participants makes me extra optimistic. I am hoping for a bath house revival!
******
First of all, thanks for reading! I am very interested in tips. Whats happening in Poland or other cool stuff. Am doing consulting so building up my knowledge base is always appreciated. Send and email to nuclear@substack.com
*****
And if you like this please subscribe for more! If you become paid subscriber you also get access to the one-pager braking down the basics and where nuclear is headed the opportunity + you get to argue in the comments! And I will also be saving the best power points and more speculative and unhinged opinions for the paid version.
*****
And now for the sources1
Sources:
Poland's government confirms Westinghouse for nuclear plant
https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/Poland-s-government-confirms-Westinghouse-for-nucl
Westinghouse and Polskie Elektrownie Jądrowe Advance Poland’s Nuclear Energy Program with Contract Signing
https://info.westinghousenuclear.com/news/wec-pej-poland-contract-signing
ZE PAK, PGE and KHNP signed a letter of intent
KHNP begins site investigation for new NPP in Poland
https://www.neimagazine.com/news/newskhnp-begins-site-investigation-for-new-npp-in-poland-10356507
“We are the exclusive partner of GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy in Poland, and our main goal is to build a fleet of BWRX-300 – SMR designed by GEH.”
https://synthosgreenenergy.com/
Ultra Safe Nuclear Corporation Partners with Synthos Green Energy to Develop Micro Reactor-Based Systems to Decarbonize Company Chemical Facilities
“Polish chemicals group Synthos and energy group ZE PAK have signed an investment agreement to explore the construction of four to six BWRX-300 small modular reactors (SMRs) at the site of ZE PAK's Pątnów coal-fired power plant in central Poland.”
https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/Partners-to-study-deployment-of-SMRs-at-Polish-coa
“PKN ORLEN and Synthos Green Energy will set up a joint venture to invest in the development of micro and small modular reactor technologies”
“Ciech has signed a Letter of Intent to cooperate with Synthos Green Energy, which is already working with GE-Hitachi and Ultra Safe Nuclear Corporation”
https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/Chemical-giant-looks-to-nuclear-heat-to-decarbonis
The first small nuclear reactors in Poland as early as 2029. KGHM has signed a contract with NuScale
Two Polish companies apply for regulator’s opinion on SMR technology assessment
Polish universities launching nuclear courses, as PKN Orlen plans 79 SMRs
https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/Polish-universities-launching-courses-ahead-of-rap
TAURON Group develops competence in nuclear power (2010)
https://media.tauron.pl/en/pr/194961/tauron-group-develops-competence-in-nuclear-power
Poland’s KGHM and TAURON to co-operate on SMRs
https://www.neimagazine.com/news/newspolands-kghm-and-tauron-to-co-operate-on-smrs-9652042
Last Energy, Enea Group to Develop Small Modular Nuclear Reactors
EDF reinforces its nuclear offer to Poland and signs with Respect Energy a specific Exclusive Cooperation Agreement for the development of nuclear power projects in Poland based on NUWARD™ SMR technology
NuScale Power Signs Memorandum of Understanding with Getka and UNIMOT to Explore SMR Deployment in Poland
https://www.nuscalepower.com/en/news/press-releases/2021/nuscale-signs-mou-with-getka-and-unimot
“GEMINI+ project will provide a conceptual design for a high temperature nuclear cogeneration system for supply of process steam to industry”
The Group intends to invest in RES, as well as in alternative energy sources such as small modular nuclear power plants
https://constructionmarketexperts.com/en/news/grupa-azoty/
JAEA to cooperate in design of Poland’s experimental reactor
https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/science-nature/technology/20221124-72754/
Agreement to investigate deployment of U-Battery in Poland
https://www.u-battery.com/news/articles/agreement-to-investigate-deployment-of-u-battery-in-poland
Industria selects Rolls-Royce SMR for use in Polish green energy projects
Westinghouse Establishes Cooperation with Dozens of Polish Suppliers for the Construction of the First Polish Nuclear Power Plant
https://info.westinghousenuclear.com/news/wec-establishes-cooperation-with-polish-suppliers
EDF reaffirms its commitment to supporting the Polish Nuclear Power Programme, entering into cooperation agreements with 5 Polish companies at its fifth Polish-French Nuclear Industry Day held in Ołtarzew, Poland
“During the symposium, Korean companies signed memorandums of understanding (MOUs) with 13 Polish companies interested in cooperation.”
https://www.neimagazine.com/news/newskhnp-begins-site-investigation-for-new-npp-in-poland-10356507