Poland applies to reserve grid capacity for its first nuclear power plant

Polish transmission system operator Polskie Sieci Elektroenergetyczne (PSE) has set the parameters required to connect Poland’s first nuclear power plant to the national power system. The nuclear power plant is planned for the Lubiatowo-Kopalino site near the municipality of Choczewo in Pomerania in northern Poland.

Every quarter, PSE updates its list of companies that have applied to connect to the transmission system. According to the latest list, dated 7 December, Polskie Elektrownie Jądrowe (PEJ) has received the conditions for connecting a nuclear power plant in the Gdańsk region with an installed capacity of up to 3 720 MWe.

The next step in the process of connecting the new nuclear power plant is to conclude a connection agreement between PSE and PEJ, which is 100% owned by the State Treasury, a legal entity representing the state as a civil-law entity. The dates for concluding the connection agreement and connecting the power plant to the national grid have not yet been set.

Selection of technology and site for Poland’s first nuclear power plant

In November 2022, the government at the time selected Westinghouse AP1000 technology for Poland’s nuclear power plant. Westinghouse, Bechtel and PEJ signed an agreement on the plan to build the power plant in May last year.

In July, the Ministry of Climate and Environment issued a decision approving PEJ’s plans to build the power plant. The aim is for Poland’s first AP1000 reactor to begin commercial operation in 2033.

In November last year, the Ministry of Climate and Environment also issued a decision on the construction of a second large nuclear power plant in the country. Two APR1400 reactors supplied by South Korea’s KHNP are planned for the Patnów-Konin region.