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Polish energy company Orlen, led by CEO Daniel Obajtek, unveils its plans to commence the construction of a new offshore wind farm in the Baltic Sea in early 2024. Orlen has secured five additional concessions with a combined planned capacity of 5.2 GW, awaiting final confirmation. These developments complement their ongoing Baltic Power project and the construction of an installation port in Świnoujście.
Alongside wind energy, Orlen places strategic importance on small modular reactors (SMRs) in the Polish energy landscape. CEO Daniel Obajtek highlights the significance of SMRs for ensuring Poland’s energy security and driving economic growth. The company has already secured financing and partnerships with Canadian and American firms, as well as support from the National Atomic Energy Agency. The first SMR is set to be operational by 2029.
Advantages of SMRs and Sustainable Energy Solutions
Orlen estimates that the cost of producing 1 MWh of electricity from SMRs will eventually be approximately 30% lower than that of gas-based energy. Each modular reactor with a capacity of around 300 MWe can significantly reduce carbon dioxide emissions, ranging from 0.3 to 2 million tons annually, depending on the fuel it replaces, such as coal. Orlen plans to adopt the BWRX-300 technology developed by GE Hitachi, which has garnered interest from over 30 countries worldwide.
Orlen Synthos Green Energy, a subsidiary of Orlen and Synthos, focuses on investing in zero-emission nuclear energy. The company has identified several potential locations for the construction of small modular reactors and will conduct detailed analyses over the next two years. Among the prospective sites are Ostrołęka, Włocławek, Stawy Monowskie, Dąbrowa Górnicza, Nowa Huta, SSE Tarnobrzeg – Stalowa Wola, and Warsaw. These areas house energy-intensive industrial plants and offer optimal conditions for district heating.