Poland, a nation committed to expanding its energy portfolio, has taken a significant stride towards achieving its nuclear aspirations. The country’s power company, Polskie Elektrownie Jądrowe (PEJ), has signed a crucial engineering services contract with Westinghouse Electric Company and Bechtel, marking a pivotal moment in the journey towards its first-ever nuclear power plant.
The story begins with the Polish government’s selection of the Westinghouse AP1000 reactor technology for the construction site in Lubiatowo-Kopalino. The decision, made in November 2022, reflects Poland’s strong commitment to diversifying its energy sources and securing a sustainable energy future.
In a further endorsement of this monumental project, the Ministry of Climate and Environment granted a decision-in-principle for PEJ, a special purpose vehicle fully owned by the State Treasury, to take charge of the plant’s construction. This decision, issued in July of this year, underscores the government’s determination to advance nuclear power generation.
These agreements represent significant milestones in Poland’s quest to achieve commercial operation of the highly anticipated reactor project. With an eye on the future, Poland is geared to commence nuclear power generation in 2033, aligning with its ambitious energy goals.
Poland has not only embraced nuclear energy but has also indicated its potential to support the construction of large-scale, pressurized water Gen III and III+ nuclear reactor designs, which are touted as “zero-emission sources.” The government envisions that these nuclear reactors could account for half of the installed capacity in the year 2040, a promising step towards reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
The contract, signed in a formal ceremony held in Warsaw on September 27, was witnessed by Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, Government Plenipotentiary for Strategic Energy Infrastructure Anna Łukaszewska-Trzeciakowska, and US Ambassador to Poland Mark Brzezinski.
Westinghouse and Bechtel will now proceed to finalize a site-specific design for the plant, which will feature three AP1000 reactors. The primary objective of this conceptual design and engineering phase is to define the requirements and design/engineering criteria, specifying norms and standards that will guide the execution of the Polish nuclear project. This stage of engineering work is set to produce over 400 final deliverables.
As part of this 18-month contract, joint activities with Westinghouse and Bechtel are planned to continue, with a particular emphasis on involving the Polish industry in the project. An earlier agreement signed by Bechtel, Westinghouse, and PEJ laid out the plans for project delivery, with Westinghouse leading the consortium during the design stage and Bechtel taking the lead during construction.
With these significant engineering contracts now in place, Poland is one step closer to realizing its nuclear energy ambitions, setting a course towards a more sustainable and diversified energy future.
