Poland continues preparations for nuclear power plants and launches offshore wind projects

Poland remains one of Europe’s most coal-dependent economies, but it is also entering a period of key decisions about the future shape of its energy mix. Alongside the gradual growth of renewables, preparations for the first nuclear power plants and the development of offshore wind are gathering pace. Nuclear power and offshore wind farms are set to significantly transform Poland’s energy sector in the coming years and reduce its dependence on coal.

Electricity generation in Poland is still heavily dependent on coal. Coal-fired power plants generate more than 55 % of the country’s electricity. Hard coal plants are dominant, accounting for 32,7 % of electricity generation last year. However, the energy sector is considerably more diverse beyond coal. Gas plays an important role, and renewables are also becoming increasingly significant, accounting for around 16 % of generation in 2025.

Nevertheless, Poland’s energy sector faces many decisions in the coming years about which direction to take. The market expects the government to adopt several key strategic documents. The governing coalition had promised that the most important strategies for Poland’s energy sector would be approved by the end of 2024.

So far, however, this has not happened, in a situation that is in many ways similar to that of the Czech Republic. Despite the absence of key strategies, gradual developments point to the issues that are likely to dominate Poland’s energy sector.

Poland’s entry into nuclear power gathers pace

One of the biggest steps, likely to be a key issue not just next year but for the coming decade, is Poland’s entry into nuclear power. Preparations for the construction of Poland’s first nuclear power plant are proceeding at full speed.

The most important contract for the project—the engineering, procurement and construction contract—is also expected to be signed in 2026. Negotiations are underway between the investor, Polskie Elektrownie Jądrowe (PEJ), and the contractor, the US consortium of Westinghouse and Bechtel.

The nuclear power plant is being planned at a site about an hour and a half from the city of Gdańsk in the north of the country. The expected investment is EUR 45 billion, and construction is scheduled to begin in 2028. The plant’s total installed capacity is expected to reach 4750 MWe. It is not the only project scheduled to begin construction in 2028.

Alongside the large plant, small modular reactors are also due to begin construction that year near the municipality of Włocławek. They are expected to add a further 1200 MWe to Poland’s nuclear fleet. Given that the capacity factor of nuclear power plants ranges from 0,85 to 0,90, these plants could generate 35 to 37 TWh annually in the future. That is more than the combined generation of Czech nuclear power plants in 2026.

Poland also has other projects on the drawing board. The World Nuclear Association currently lists five more small modular reactor projects and one large reactor project. Their total planned installed capacity is 7800 MWe. It is therefore clear that Poland is serious about nuclear power.

First electricity from offshore wind farms

Although onshore wind power is relatively well developed in Poland, the construction of offshore turbines had been at a standstill until now. The lack of progress was particularly surprising given developments in other Baltic states, which have built one project after another in recent years. Poland has yet to bring a single offshore wind farm into operation. That will change next year, when at least one large project is due to come online.

That project is Baltic Power, owned by Orlen and Canada’s Northland Power. The wind farm is located 23 km off the coast, near Łeba and Choczewo. Its 76 wind turbines cover an area of more than 130 square kilometres, and each turbine has an installed capacity of 15 MW. In theory, it could generate enough electricity to meet the consumption of 1,5 to 2 million households.

But this project is intended to be just the beginning. Poland has set a target of 5,9 GW of installed capacity by 2030 and a total of 8-11 GW by 2040. Further development of offshore wind farms in Poland can therefore be expected in 2026 as well.