Poland
Electricity generation in Poland
Currently no nuclear power installed
Installed electric capacity
"The Polish power generation sector is the largest in Central and Eastern Europe. In 2001, Poland's installed electric capacity was about 30.6 million kilowatts. Electric generation reached 135 billion kilowatt hours (Bkwh), while consumption was 119 Bkwh in 2001. Coal-fired power plants meet most of Poland's annual electricity demand. Poland is also a net exporter of electricity.
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Liberalization of electricity sector
Poland began liberalizing its electricity sector in 1998. As of now, companies consuming over 10 Gwh annually can choose their suppliers. Next year the threshold will fall to 1 Gwh and by 2006, the market will be completely open. In April 1997, the Polish government passed a new Energy Act, which required the Government Economic Committee to pass "Guidelines on Poland's Energy Policy Through 2020." The document spells out long-term energy forecasts and action plans for the Polish government. The key objectives include: increased security of energy supplies, (including diversification of sources); increased competitiveness for Polish energy sources in domestic and international markets; environmental protection; improving energy efficiency; and reducing energy-related carbon emissions. "
(source: http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/cabs/poland.html)
Developments in the nuclear sector
2010, March 16: Nuclear site study in Poland
"A nationwide survey has selected Poland's best sites for nuclear power plants, two of which are planned for 2020.
A points system was used by a panel of experts based on information from a range of national institutes concerning factors such as geology, public acceptance, availability of cooling water and ease of grid connection.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, the site that came top has previously been announced as a candidate and was planned for reactors in the 1980s. Zarnowiec, on the northern coast 40 kilometres from Gdansk, garnered 65.6 points and sat clearly at the head of the list of 27 candidates.
The conclusions were announced this morning by Hanna Trojanowska, the government's Plenipotentiary for Nuclear Energy as part of her work to implement a framework to introduce nuclear energy in Poland. A four-stage plan envisages legislation by 2010; site, technology and construction arrangements in 2011-13; technical plans and site works in 2014-15; and construction in 2016-20.
Presently Poland uses coal for over 90% of its electricity, demand for which is set to double by 2025. It is government policy to bring forward nuclear power to make up 10% of generation by 2030, with EU restrictions on carbon emissions a major concern.
It remains the decision of Polska Grupa Energetyczna (PGE) to decide on siting of any nuclear power plants, in which it would hold a 51% stake. This firm, the largest power company in Poland, has previously said it would like to build two nuclear plants of 3000 MWe each, one in the north and one in the east of the country.
Zarnowiec could fulfil the requirement for a northern site, while third-placed Kopan is another 100 kilometres west along the Baltic coast. Both of these are coastal areas which also feature inland lakes.
The top-ranked site towards the east of the country was fourth-placed Nowe Miasto on the Sona river, 50 kilometres northwest of the capital, Warsaw."
(source: http://www.world-nuclear-news.org)
2009, Aug: Poland reveals plans to generate nuclear power before 2021
"A roadmap for nuclear energy has been unveiled by Poland, setting out the steps it will take with the aim of generating nuclear power before 2021.
The proposed schedule was announced by the government yesterday as part of a plan to reduce exposure to volatility in imported energy sources. It includes efforts to assess Poland's potential for producing uranium of its own.
By the end of 2010 Polish leaders want to have drafted the legislation required to give a stable framework for nuclear liability as well as power plant construction and operation. At the same time it will develop training programs and establish research facilities and institutions for nuclear energy. These will be under the domain of a forthcoming National Atomic Energy Agency. It is hoped that a consortium to actually build the first nuclear power plant will be formed.
Locations for the power plant are to be identified between 2011 and the end of 2014, with a final decision taken towards the end of the period. The government will also act to assess Poland's uranium resources, which had previously been exploited by the Soviet Union. By this time, the building consortium should have sourced its finance and selected the reactor technology it wants.
State-owned Polska Grupa Energetyczna SA (PGE) has previously said it would like to build two nuclear power plants, each with a capacity of 3000 MWe - two or three large reactors each. One potential site would be the northern town of Zarnowiec, where four Russian VVER-440 pressurized water reactors began construction only to be cancelled in 1990.
Work to build the new plant is envisaged at the start of 2016 with the preceding time taken up by the detailed design of the power plant and the safety, environmental and political approvals. A disposal facility for low-and intermediate-level radioactive waste will be constructed.
The first Polish nuclear power plant is slated to be built between January 2016 and December 2020. This plan is contemporary with one in neighbouring Kaliningrad for 2300 MWe of new nuclear as well as one in Lithuania for a 3400 MWe replacement for Ignalina in which Poland has a stake."
(source: http://www.world-nuclear-news.org)
