Nuclear Power in Poland
(updated September 2011)
Poland plans to have nuclear power from about 2020 as part of a diverse energy portfolio, moving it away from heavy dependence on coal and imported gas.
It also plans to have a stake in the new Ignalina nuclear power plant in Lithuania.
In 2008, Poland produced some 156 billion kWh gross from 33 GWe of mostly coal plant. Domestic supply accounted for almost all of this at 155 billion kWh and, subtracting line losses and energy industry use, domestic consumption was 118 billion kWh, or 3090 kWh/yr per capita.
Poland has the largest reserves of coal in the EU (14 billion tonnes); and in 2008, 92% of electricity came from coal, as well as 89% (279,000 TJ) of the nation's heat usage (313,000 TJ). At least half of the country's gas supply comes from Russia with the price pegged to oil, but this dependence is set to change with the advent of shale gas.
Poland has traditionally been a net electricity exporter, mostly to Czech Republic and Slovakia, but recent years has seen a reduction in export levels as domestic demand continues to grow, and the country looks set to become a net importer unless capacity additions are made.
Poland's own electricity consumption is forecast to grow by 54% to 2030, but under the EU's strict climate policy targets the country will need to diversify away from coal.
Plans for nuclear capacity
The Polish cabinet decided early in 2005 that for energy diversification and to reduce CO2 and sulfur emissions the country should move immediately to introduce nuclear power, so that an initial plant might be operating soon after 2020. A 2009 report to the Ministry of the Economy identified nuclear as the most cost effective method of CO2 abatement of the major generating options. A resolution by the council of ministers then called for the construction of at least two plants in Poland, or at least 4.6 GWe out of a predicted 52 GWe total capacity - to provide 15% of power, with coal's share falling to 60% by 2030. This plan remains in place. Three locations were short-listed as likely sites for a plant: Zarnowiec, Kopan and Lubiatowo/ Klempicz. Sites in Nowe Miasto and Pilica (Mazovia province) and Belchatow are also being considered. Under the current schedule site selection will not be finalized before the end of 2013.
The five-stage government plan in 2009 envisaged legislation for a regulatory framework in 2010 (passed in May 2011), investor, site, technology and construction arrangements over 2011-13, technical plans and site works 2014-15, construction of the first unit 2016-20 and successive units constructed by 2030.
In order to deliver the government's objectives, state-owned Polska Grupa Energetyczna SA (PGE), Poland's largest power group by generating capacity, announced in January 2009 plans to build two nuclear power plants, each with a capacity of 3,000 MWe, one in the north, probably at Zarnoweic, and one in the east of the country. The Ministry of Economy set out a new nuclear power program in November 2010, and this was approved by government in January 2011. PGE estimates that the cost would be EUR 2500-3000/kW for a Generation III plant, hence total project cost of up to EUR 10.5 billion. PGE would hold 51% of the projects through PGE EJ as part of a consortium with foreign partners, so that it would be financed partly by PGE and partly from external sources.
The government approved legislation amending the country's Nuclear Energy Law to “provide for the establishment of a transparent and stable regulatory framework covering the entire investment process” by the National Atomic Energy Agency (PAA), which will oversee construction of the plants. This was passed decisively by parliament in May 2011, by 407 votes to 2. It covers plant operation and the management of radioactive waste and used fuel. Further legislation was passed at the end of June. PGE expects to call for tenders later in 2011 and sign a commercial contract by the end of 2013 for the first 3000 MWe plant, so that first concrete is poured in 2016. Site qualification and selection will proceed until 2013. The entity PGE EJ1 is set up to build the first plant and it will have up to 49% private equity. It will be future operator and licensee.
In November 2009 France and Poland signed a joint declaration on energy, environment and climate that calls for France to assist Poland in the construction of nuclear power plants. PGE then signed an agreement to work with EdF to investigate using EPR technology for Poland. A similar non-exclusive agreement was signed with GE Hitachi early in 2010, regarding ABWR and ESBWR technology. Westinghouse has signed a similar agreement for its AP1000. In March 2010 a nuclear cooperation agreement related to nuclear safety and a legal and regulatory framework for a nuclear industry was signed with Japan, and in July a nuclear cooperation agreement was signed with the USA. South Korea's Kepco also intends to bid for Polish units. Russian technology does not appear to be under consideration.
Poland had four 440 MWe Russian VVER-440 units under construction in the 1980s at Zarnowiec, but these were cancelled in 1990 and the components were sold. The site remained a leading contender for at least 1500 MWe of capacity.
Lithuanian liaison:
In July 2006 Lithuania invited Poland to join with Estonia and Latvia in building a new large reactor in Lithuania, to replace the Ignalina units being shut down at EU insistence. Polish participation would justify a larger and more economical unit such as an EPR. In February 2007 the three Baltic states and Poland agreed to build a new nuclear plant there, initially of 3200 MWe. Lithuania as host would have 34% of the project and Poland, Latvia and Estonia 22% each. At least one unit of the project was expected to be operating by 2015. Total cost would be some EUR 6 billion. E.On earlier expressed interest in investing in such a unit. Poland said that unless it has access to at least 1000 MWe of the project, later increased to 1200 MWe, it is not worth building the transmission lines to Poland.
In July 2008 the Lithuanian government with energy companies from Latvia, Estonia and Poland (Latvenergo, Eesti Energia and Polska Grupa Energetyczna) established the Visaginas project development company Visagino Atomine Elektine (VAE) for the new 3200-3400 MWe nuclear power plant. Lithuania holds 51% of this, and the others 16% each, but the JV will be reconstituted later as a project implementation company with different share split related to long-term equity. Though located close to the Soviet-era Ignalina plant, the new one will be called Visaginas after the nearby town of that name. Lithuania wants at least 34% of the new plant (1090-1160 MWe), Poland wants 1000 MWe, while Latvia and Estonia want 400-600 MWe each. However, only one reactor may now be envisaged, at a cost of EUR 3-5 billion, and completion date is 2020. (Further details in Lithuania paper)
Regional links
Meanwhile, and apart from possible Polish participation in the Baltic states nuclear plant, a high-voltage (400 kV) 1000 MW DC PowerBridge costing EUR 250-300 million to improve transmission capacity between Lithuania and Poland is to be built by 2015. It will be half funded by the EC. This follows inauguration of an interconnector between Estonia and Finland - Estlink, a 150 kV, 350 MW DC cable costing EUR 110 million and also supported by EC funding.
A further major transmission link, of 700 to 1000 MWe is proposed undersea between Sweden and Lithuania, to allow power from the new joint reactor to be exported to Scandinavia.
Poland joined the Global Nuclear Energy Partnership (GNEP) in September 2007 and the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) in November 2010.
Public opinion
A public opinion poll in December 2006 carried out for the National Atomic Energy Agency showed that 60% supported construction of nuclear power plants to reduce the country's dependence on natural gas and to reduce CO2 emissions. In contrast to NIMBY attitudes elsewhere, 48% said they would favour such a plant being built in their neighbourhood because of its immediate local benefits including lower power cost. A September 2009 poll showed that 70% of Poles would support having a nuclear power plant within 100 km of their homes.
Non-proliferation
The application of safeguards in Poland under the NPT safeguards agreement INFCIRC/179, in force since October 1972, was suspended on 1 March 2007, on which date the Euratom agreement of April 1973 entered into force for Poland.
Bauruine des polnischen Kernkraftwerks Żarnowiec von 1990

 Angesichts des Wachstums der polnischen Industrie und des zunehmenden Bedarfs an elektrischer Energie plant die Regierung in Warschau ein Atomkraftwerk an der Ostseeküste. In etwa zehn Jahren soll das Kraftwerk elektrischen Strom liefern und auch die Abhängigkeit vom Energielieferanten Russland verringern. Umweltschützer melden bereits Bedenken an, Hotel- und Restaurantbesitzer fürchten einen Rückgang der Besucherzahlen beim Tourismus.

Polen hat die größten bekannten Kohlevorräte in der EU und deckte im Jahre 2008 rund 90 % seines Energiebedarfs mit diesem fossilen Brennstoff. Ein Projekt zum Bau eines Kernkraftwerks an der Ostseeküste 50 km nordwestlich von Danzig war 1972 von der polnischen Regierung gestartet worden, nach der Katastrophe von Tschernobyl 1986 und der politischen Wende 1989 jedoch 1990 endgültig aufgegeben. Der Standort ist aber weiterhin Teil des Atomprogramms, das im März diesen Jahres mit 404 gegen 2 Stimmen vom Parlament in Warschau beschlossen wurde. Ursprünglich war eine Ausschreibung für Mitte 2012 vorgesehen. Doch als offensichtlich wurde, dass auch Finanzierung und die Beteiligung strategischer Partner dabei zu berücksichtigen waren, verschob der staatliche Energiekonzern die Ausschreibung, um den traditionellen Leistungskatalog für das Kraftwerk zu erweitern. Die Planungen für ein Kernkraftwerk mit einer elektrischen Leistung von 3000 MW werden voraussichtlich im Jahre 2013 abgeschlossen sein, der Betriebsbeginn ist für das Jahr 2024 vorgesehen, die Kosten betragen schätzungsweise 10 Milliarden Euro.

Gegenwärtig betreibt Polen nur einen Forschungsreaktor mit einer thermischen Leistung von 30 MW, der allerdings bisher nur mit 20 MW gefahren wird. Das Atomprogramm sieht den Bau von insgesamt 27 Kernkraftwerken vor, um so langfristig den Energiebedarf des Landes zu decken.