Country profile: Poland

Summary figures for 2017

The following information is from the NEA publication Nuclear Energy Data, the annual compilation of official statistics and country reports on nuclear energy in OECD member countries.

Country Number of nuclear power plants connected to the grid Nuclear electricity generation (net TWh) Nuclear percentage of total electricity supply
Poland00.00.0
OECD Europe127774.421.7
OECD Total3111 856.817.6
NEA Total 352 2 062.6 17.9

Country report

There is no commercial use of nuclear power in Poland to date. The research reactor, Maria, also used for the production of medical radioisotopes and operated in Otwock-Swierk (National Centre for Nuclear Research), is the only operating nuclear facility in the country.

The legal framework for the development of nuclear power in Poland consists of two main laws:

  • the Atomic Law with its implementing regulations substantially amended in 2011 and 2014;
  • the Law on the preparation and implementation of investments on nuclear facilities and accompanying investments, which entered into force on 1 July 2011 (Nuclear investment Act).

The Polish Nuclear Power Programme, adopted in January 2014 by the Council of Ministers, is a strategic document, which presents the roles and responsibilities of the institutions responsible for the implementation of the programme and covers issues related to nuclear safety and radiological protection. It includes a detailed scope of activities to be undertaken for the safe use of nuclear power in Poland and sets a timetable for the construction of two NPPs, and the preparation of the regulatory and organisational infrastructure for these investments.

The programme adopted in January 2014 envisages the construction of two nuclear power plants with a combined capacity of 6 000 MWe (net), producing about 50 TWh of electricity per year, which will translate into annual savings in the range of at least 36 million tonnes of CO2 and 24% of the current CO2 annual emission level in the Polish electricity generation sector. The programme is currently subject to review and update.

Responsibility for the plant's construction rests with PGE EJ 1 Sp. z o.o. The company is responsible for investment preparations, site characterisation work and receipt of all relevant decisions, licences and permits required for NPP construction in Poland.

PGE EJ 1 Sp. z o.o. is proceeding with site surveys in two locations placed close to the Baltic coast – Zarnowiec and Lubiatowo/Kopalino. Site surveys are expected to be finalised in 2020.

In parallel to the large-scale nuclear power programme, work is ongoing to assess the feasibility of the commercial use of high-temperature reactors (HTR) for heat production. The Advisory Committee for High Temperature Reactors issued its report in September 2017, which includes recommendations for the Minister of Energy on the possibilities of implementing HTR technology in Poland.

Source: Nuclear Energy Data 2018