Poland Drives Nuclear Power Transition

Written by Martin Lynch, European News Editor for IIR News Intelligence (Sugar Land, Texas)

Summary

Key contracts related to the rollout of small modular reactors (SMRs) as well as the construction of Poland's first full-scale nuclear power project have been signed.

Poland's transition away from coal-fired power and towards nuclear power has accelerated this month with key contracts signed for the country's first full-scale nuclear power projects and a planned small modular reactor (SMR) rollout. 

Nuclear Power Advancing

State-owned Polskie Elektrownie Jądrowe (PEJ) and the Westinghouse-Bechtel consortium have agreed the main commercial and legal terms of the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) designed to deliver the country's first nuclear power plant. In addition, Westinghouse has been given the green light to start ordering long lead items (LLIs) for the first unit of the planned Lubiatowo-Kopalino nuclear power plant. 

Poland is aiming to have 6 to 9 gigawatts (GW) of nuclear power, starting with three reactors at the Lubiatowo-Kopalino site in northern Poland. Industrial Info reported that the project will use three Generation III+ AP1000 reactors from Westinghouse with a combined output of 3,750 megawatts (MW). The target date of commissioning for the first reactor is 2033, according to PEJ. However, that is earlier than expected and IIR estimates 2038 for full completion. According to Industrial Info Resources data, there are eight nuclear power-related projects worth US$113 billion in investment in Poland. 

The First Nuclear Power Project

Site preparation work is under way at Lubiatowo-Kopalino. The scope of the LLI order covers six key components of the nuclear island, including the reactor containment vessel (CV) and associated structural modules, stated PEJ. "The CV is one of the most technologically advanced and complex components of a nuclear power plant, requiring years of production and delivery from specialized suppliers who meet the highest quality and safety standards." Poland is Europe's largest user of coal -fired power, accounting for around 70% of its total, and is under constant pressure from the European Union (EU) to transition to cleaner forms of energy. 

Miłosz Motyka, Poland's Minister of Energy, added: "This is an extremely important moment for the entire investment. Securing the components with the longest production lead time has direct implications for the construction schedule of the first Polish nuclear power plant. We want energy from the first reactor to reach our electricity grids in 2036. This is a strategic investment by the Polish state that will meet our needs for decades, becoming one of the foundations of our country's energy security."

Second Nuclear Power Plant

The Ministry of Energy, PEJ and state-owned power company Polska Grupa Energetyczna (PGE) have signed an agreement outlining the initial tasks and proposed cooperation to prepare the way for construction of a second nuclear power plant at either Bełchatów or Konin. "We are embarking on the second nuclear power plant with something we didn't have at the start of the first investment: experience from the first project," said Marek Woszczyk, president of the management board of PEJ. "We know how to manage administrative processes, organize dialogue with partners, and prepare for implementation of a project of this scale. Today's agreement provides a clear division of responsibilities and allows us to focus on what matters most: consistently achieving subsequent milestones. At the same time, we recognize PGE's important role and are jointly finalizing contractual and organizational solutions that will allow both companies to effectively implement this project, which is strategic for the country."

Small Modular Reactor Deal

SGE - formerly Synthos Green Energy - and ZE Pak have agreed to establish a joint venture to build a nuclear power plant in Pątnów, using up to six BWRX-300 SMRs developed by GE Vernova Hitachi. The proposed plant would have a capacity of 1,800 MW. It will use the site of an existing coal plant owned by ZE PAK. Polish billionaire Michał Sołowow, founder of SGE, said: "Today's agreement between SGE and ZE PAK lays a strong foundation for deploying six safe and efficient BWRX-300 reactors at Pątnów. This is one of the most strategically important locations in Poland's energy system. The existing coal-fired power plant will inevitably have to shut down, and without a reliable replacement, its closure could disrupt grid operations. Replacing coal-fired generation with nuclear power based on SMR technology will bring Poland's energy system into the 21st century." 

In July, Industrial Info reported that SGE and partners had targeted the U.K.'s emerging small modular reactor (SMR) sector with a £35 billion (US$47 billion) plan to roll out a fleet of 14 SMRs. An application under the U.K.'s Advanced Nuclear Framework (ANF) has been submitted to develop a combined 4.2-GW fleet, which if fully realized could deliver 11% of the country's power demand "for at least 60 years." The first proposed 1,800 MW project will be constructed at Oldbury, site of a closed nuclear power plant, at a cost of US$20 billion.

Key Takeaways 

• Key contracts have been signed related to the rollout of Poland's first full-scale nuclear power project and a planned small modular reactor (SMR) project.
• Industrial Info Resources is tracking 8 nuclear power-related projects worth US$113 billion in investment in Poland.
• Poland is aiming to have 6 to 9 gigawatts (GW) of nuclear power, starting with three reactors at the Lubiatowo-Kopalino site in northern Poland.

About Industrial Info Resources
Industrial Info Resources (IIR) is the leading provider of industrial market intelligence. Since 1983, IIR has provided comprehensive research, news and analysis on the industrial process, manufacturing and energy related industries. IIR's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) helps companies identify and pursue trends across multiple markets with access to real, qualified and validated plant and project opportunities. Across the world, Industrial Info Resources is tracking over 250,000 current and future projects worth $30.2 Trillion (USD).