Assessment of sites for coal-to-nuclear transition in Poland

To meet the demands of the European Green Deal, European Union (EU) countries are facing increasing pressure to transition their energy systems and significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In Poland, this demands the rapid phase-out of coal-fired power plants, a particularly challenging objective given coal's dominant role in the country's electricity generation and its economic importance to a substantial portion of the population. Coal-to-nuclear (C2N) repowering, i.e., the replacement of coal-fired power units with nuclear power sources, presents a viable energy transition strategy for Poland and other nations with similar energy infrastructures. This study evaluates the suitability of C2N repowering for 23 coal-fired power plants using a brownfield and direct approaches. The assessment includes separate rankings for technical feasibility and safety, in accordance with Polish nuclear regulations and International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) guidelines. The findings indicate that Kozienice, Połaniec, Dolna Odra, and Opole are the most promising sites for C2N conversion. These power plants were selected based on their high power capacity, considerable distance from coal mines and the relatively low population density of the areas, and proximity to major rivers necessary for cooling. This paper details the methodology applied and presents the analytical results that support these rankings. • Technical and nuclear safety criteria for C2N transition assessment were identified. • Methodology for assessment of coal-fired systems for C2N transition was proposed. • 23 coal-fired power systems for brownfield C2N pathway in Poland were classified. • 9 coal-fired power units for direct C2N pathway in Poland were classified.