Nuclear energy in Poland
Encyclopedia
In the 1980s, Poland
had four Russian reactors
under construction, but the project was canceled in 1990. A new nuclear power plant
was approved in the 2005–2025 energy strategy document, and it is expected to be in operation by 2021 or 2022. The Polish company PSE
participates in the development of the Visaginas Nuclear Power Plant
in Lithuania.
Around 95% of the nation's electricity is currently produced by burning coal (of which Poland has the EU's largest reserves) but with the need to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, in 2006 the nuclear option was reviewed. A 2006 feasibility study suggested it optimal to build a 11.5 GWe
capacity nuclear power plant. However, this proving unaffordable in the immediate future, Poland decided to build a 4.5 GWe
nuclear power plant by 2030. In 2007, a draft energy policy proposed a 10 GWe
nuclear capacity by 2030 to provide 10% of electricity. The deadline gives an estimated ten years for investment and construction and five years of public campaigning.
In July 2006, Poland
joined Lithuania
, Estonia
, and Latvia
to build a new nuclear power plant in Lithuania to replace the Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant
being shut down due to pressure from the EU. Poland would invest 22% with these other countries into the project, which will be operational by 2015. The total costs of the project amounts to EUR
6 billion. Poland
is guaranteed to have 1,200 MWe
from the power plant and is in the process of upgrading transmission capacity between Lithuania
and Poland.
In a public opinion poll, 60% of the population supported construction of a nuclear power plant in Poland to reduce its dependence on foreign sources of energy. Additionally, 48% supported construction of a nuclear power plant in their neighborhood, citing local benefits that include lower energy costs.
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
had four Russian reactors
Zarnowiec Nuclear Power Plant
The Żarnowiec Nuclear Power Plant was supposed to be the first nuclear power plant in Poland. Due to changes in the economical and political situation in Poland after 1989, as well as public protests in the late 1980s and early '90s which escalated in the wake of the Chernobyl disaster, the...
under construction, but the project was canceled in 1990. A new nuclear power plant
Nuclear power plant
A nuclear power plant is a thermal power station in which the heat source is one or more nuclear reactors. As in a conventional thermal power station the heat is used to generate steam which drives a steam turbine connected to a generator which produces electricity.Nuclear power plants are usually...
was approved in the 2005–2025 energy strategy document, and it is expected to be in operation by 2021 or 2022. The Polish company PSE
PSE SA
PSE-Operator SA is state owned transmission system operator in Poland. 100% of its shares is owned by the State Treasury. Until 2007, PSE Operator was a part of the PSE Group ....
participates in the development of the Visaginas Nuclear Power Plant
Visaginas nuclear power plant
Visaginas nuclear power plant is a planned nuclear power plant project in Lithuania. It is proposed to be built at the site of the closed Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant which was shut-down on 31 December 2009 in accordance with Lithuania's accession agreement to the European Union...
in Lithuania.
Around 95% of the nation's electricity is currently produced by burning coal (of which Poland has the EU's largest reserves) but with the need to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, in 2006 the nuclear option was reviewed. A 2006 feasibility study suggested it optimal to build a 11.5 GWe
GWE
GWE could refer to:* gigawatt electrical; abbreviated as GWe.* Gwersyllt railway station, Wales; National Rail station code GWE.* Thornhill Airport, Gweru, Zimbabwe; IATA airport code GWE....
capacity nuclear power plant. However, this proving unaffordable in the immediate future, Poland decided to build a 4.5 GWe
GWE
GWE could refer to:* gigawatt electrical; abbreviated as GWe.* Gwersyllt railway station, Wales; National Rail station code GWE.* Thornhill Airport, Gweru, Zimbabwe; IATA airport code GWE....
nuclear power plant by 2030. In 2007, a draft energy policy proposed a 10 GWe
GWE
GWE could refer to:* gigawatt electrical; abbreviated as GWe.* Gwersyllt railway station, Wales; National Rail station code GWE.* Thornhill Airport, Gweru, Zimbabwe; IATA airport code GWE....
nuclear capacity by 2030 to provide 10% of electricity. The deadline gives an estimated ten years for investment and construction and five years of public campaigning.
In July 2006, Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
joined Lithuania
Lithuania
Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...
, Estonia
Estonia
Estonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies...
, and Latvia
Latvia
Latvia , officially the Republic of Latvia , is a country in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by Estonia , to the south by Lithuania , to the east by the Russian Federation , to the southeast by Belarus and shares maritime borders to the west with Sweden...
to build a new nuclear power plant in Lithuania to replace the Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant
Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant
The Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant is a closed two-unit RBMK-1500 nuclear power station in Visaginas, Lithuania. It was named after the nearby city of Ignalina...
being shut down due to pressure from the EU. Poland would invest 22% with these other countries into the project, which will be operational by 2015. The total costs of the project amounts to EUR
Euro
The euro is the official currency of the eurozone: 17 of the 27 member states of the European Union. It is also the currency used by the Institutions of the European Union. The eurozone consists of Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg,...
6 billion. Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
is guaranteed to have 1,200 MWe
MWE
MWE may refer to:*Manufacturer's Weight Empty*McDermott Will & Emery*Midwest Express, an airline*Merowe Airport - IATA code*Multiword expressionMWe may refer to:*Megawatt electrical...
from the power plant and is in the process of upgrading transmission capacity between Lithuania
Lithuania
Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...
and Poland.
In a public opinion poll, 60% of the population supported construction of a nuclear power plant in Poland to reduce its dependence on foreign sources of energy. Additionally, 48% supported construction of a nuclear power plant in their neighborhood, citing local benefits that include lower energy costs.