SGE plans fleet of 14 Modular Nuclear Reactors capable of meeting 11% of UK energy demand

Polish group SGE plans 14 SMRs in the UK

Polish group SGE (formerly Synthos Green Energy) have announced plans to construct 14 Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) in the United Kingdom. The company has submitted an application under the UK’s Advanced Nuclear Framework (ANF) to develop a combined 4.2GW fleet, which could deliver enough clean power to meet 11% of UK demand. This would be equivalent to powering an estimated eight million homes for at least sixty years, the group suggests.

Led by Michal Solowow, the SGE consortium also includes GE Vernova Hitachi Nuclear Energy (GVH), which would build the BWRX-300 SMRs, as well as Samsung C&T, Laing O’Rourke, Aecon Group Inc, Fermi Development, Etara, and an experienced nuclear operator.

Michał Sołowow, Founder of SGE, said: “We are focused on delivering efficient, safe, affordable, and clean nuclear energy power at fleet scale. The UK is home to one of the world’s most experienced nuclear workforce and the British Government has provided a clear path to market with the Advanced Nuclear Framework. Because of this, I am confident we will set a new standard for nuclear development by combining our disruptive business model with the BWRX-300’s tenth generation proven technology.”[i]

It is thought that some of the proposed UK fleet of SMRs could be installed at Oldbury on Severn, adjacent to the site of one of the UK’s earliest nuclear reactors in South Gloucestershire. Further, The Telegraph reports that as part of its proposal, SGE has vowed to charge the UK Government less for its power than EDF plans at Hinkley, the nuclear power station under construction in Somerset[ii]. EDF is expected to charge more than £150 per megawatt hour for the power it generates.

Warsaw-based SGE currently has several BWRX-300 projects underway in Poland and elsewhere in Europe. The technology is also under licensed construction in Canada, with the project on schedule to become the first SMR to operate in the OECD.

In a statement, SGE has said that it anticipates that the project will enter the UK's Advanced Nuclear Pipeline in November 2026, with site selection and government support scheme negotiations completed in the first half of 2027. Following this, major investment, site preparation and licensing work would begin within approximately a year, with commercial operation of the first unit targeted for 2034.

Rafał Kasprów, CEO of SGE, said: “With a clear requirement for substantial new nuclear capacity over the coming decades, we believe our approach can make a meaningful contribution at scale. Standardisation, repetition, modularisation, and a fleet deployment strategy are the most effective ways to deliver new nuclear projects successfully, reducing costs, construction risk, and delivery times. We are committed to working with UK partners to provide secure, affordable, and clean electricity to millions of British households for generations to come.”[iii]

What are Small Modular Reactors?

The IAEA (International Atomic Energy Association) defines Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) as “Advanced nuclear reactors that have a power capacity of up to 300 MW(e) per unit, which is about one-third of the generating capacity of traditional nuclear power reactors.”[iv]

These devices are not only a fraction of the size of a conventional nuclear power reactor, but their modular design means that their systems and components can be factory-assembled and transported as a unit to a location for installation, this makes them more cost-effective and offer time-savings in their deployment.

Further, given their smaller footprint, SMRs can be sited on locations not suitable for larger nuclear power plants. According to the IAEA, repurposing coal plants with SMRs could be one way to support fast roll-out. Their generation capacity, between 200 MWe and 400 MWe, is similar to that of a typical coal fired plant, therefore these SMRs could be deployed to use existing grid connections on decommissioned coal powerplant sites. Benefits of such proposals include avoiding the necessary land acquisition for the SMR plant, the presence of existing water sources, established grid connections, as well as rail and road connectivity[v].