Poland plans major investment in renewable and nuclear energy

The Government of Poland is reportedly planning to phase out coal power, focusing investments on developing renewable and nuclear power infrastructure.

Reuters reported on government plans to invest $40bn to develop the country’s first nuclear power plants, with 6GW to 9GW capacity.

Authorities expect the first nuclear power plant with 1-1.6GW capacity to come online by 2033.

The government intends the investments to help the country address climate change and ensure stable power supplies in the country.

By 2044, the government reportedly plans to develop 8-11GW of offshore wind capacity.

It also plans to build 8-11GW of offshore wind capacity by 2040 with investment estimated at $34bn (PLN130bn).

The government estimates that the renewable and nuclear energy facilities will create 300,000 employment opportunities in the region.

Poland has become the only country in the EU that refused to pledge climate neutrality by 2050. Poland’s leaders have said the country would require more time and investment to make a transition from coal to cleaner energy sources. In August, Poland’s deputy energy minister said the country may end coal generation by 2060 at the latest.

However, environmental campaign group Greenpeace said the country’s strategy does not respond to the challenges of the climate crisis. A Greenpeace statement said: “The plan assumes maintaining a high share of coal-fired energy in 2030, and does not specify the date of Poland’s departure from coal.”

Increasing carbon emission costs, as well as EU’s climate policies and the impact created by the outbreak of Covid-19, has reportedly forced the country to fast-track its energy transformation.