Poland announced in 2020 a long term plan for phasing out coal by 2049. Coal has become increasingly expensive to mine in Poland, the industry now relies on government subsidies, taking nearly all of the annual €1.6 billion government energy sector support.
- Poland accounts for 30% of the European Union’s annual consumption of coal
- As of 2020, coal powered 74% of Poland’s electricity generation
- In September 2020, the government and mining union agreed a plan to phase out coal by 2049
While wind power contributes about 9% of energy generation in Poland, new plans to replace coal – eye nuclear power.
Poland wants to build a few GE-Hitachi BWRX-300 SMRs – small water cooled reactors near the shores of the Baltic Sea – in 460 km distance to the German capitol, Berlin.
Nuclear energy creates nuclear waste and the danger of a possible accident. An accident has the potential to devastate nearby regions, particular accessible through the Ocean, rivers or by air.
Coastal water-cooled Nuclear Power Plants in Poland with Climate Change
The following impacts may affect the environment, the functionality and the security of Poland’s nuclear reactors.
- The water temperature at the Baltic Sea coast
- Sea level rise of ~90 centimeters by 2100.
- The Baltic Sea Ocean dead zones
- Thermal Water Pollution from Nuclear Power Plants
- Coastal erosion
- Example of nuclear plants being shutdown due to heatwaves.
- Example of nuclear cooling water affecting the Ocean.
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Teaser image via NRC.