Poland - World Nuclear Outlook Report
Nuclear policy and outlook
In 2009, the Polish government decided to initiate a new nuclear power programme. The Polish Nuclear Power Programme (PPEJ), updated in June 2026 and awaiting reapproval, envisages two large nuclear power plants with a combined capacity of 6-9 GWe. The first unit of the first plant is scheduled to enter commercial operation in 2036, and the first unit of the second plant is expected to be fully operational by 2040.
In November 2022, the Polish government selected Westinghouse's AP1000 technology for the country's first nuclear power plant, at Lubiatowo-Kopalino in the Choczewo municipality of Pomerania. The plant will comprise three units with a total capacity of 3750 MWe. The project company, Polskie Elektrownie Jądrowe (PEJ), is wholly owned by the State Treasury, and the plant is being delivered by a Westinghouse-Bechtel consortium.
In December 2025, the European Commission approved state aid for the project, including a two-way contract for difference. The project will be financed through 30% state equity and 70% debt. In February 2026, the US Export-Import Bank signed a loan agreement to finance preparatory and engineering work.
Preparatory works began at the site in 2025. PEJ submitted a construction licence application to the National Atomic Energy Agency (PAA) in March 2026. In September 2026, PEJ and the Westinghouse-Bechtel consortium agreed the main terms of the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract, with the remaining terms due to be finalized. First concrete is scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2028, with the three units entering commercial operation in 2036, 2037 and 2038.
In 2022, ZE PAK, Polska Grupa Energetyczna (PGE) and Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) signed a letter of intent to develop a plant with two APR1400 units at Pątnów, but KHNP withdrew in August 2025.
The government is running a competitive dialogue to select the technology supplier and strategic partner for the second large nuclear power plant, with participants from the USA, France and Canada. OSGE (see below) has asked to have the BWRX-300 admitted to the competitive dialogue for the second plant.
Bełchatów and Konin have been identified as the most likely sites for the second large nuclear power plant. Selection of the partner and technology is planned for 2027 and confirmation of the site for 2028. Construction is expected to begin around 2032, with the first unit commissioned around 2040. Unlike the first plant, the second is expected to rely on the selected partner to help finance the project.
Orlen Synthos Green Energy (OSGE), a joint venture between Orlen and Synthos Green Energy, plans to deploy GE Vernova Hitachi BWRX-300 small modular reactors. In December 2023, the Ministry of Climate and Environment issued decisions-in-principle for up to 24 BWRX-300 units at six locations, a total of 7200 MWe. In August 2025, Włocławek, in central Poland, was selected as the first site. OSGE expects to complete the first unit by 2032, and the second by 2035.
In July 2023, copper and silver producer KGHM received a decision-in-principle for a 462 MWe NuScale VOYGR plant comprising six 77 MWe modules.
In 2023, state-owned Industria selected Rolls-Royce SMR technology for a project to produce 50,000 tonnes of hydrogen a year. The project received a decision-in-principle in May 2024.
Table Po.1 Contributions to total capacity projection in 2050 (gross)
| 60 year operation (MWe) | 80 year operation (MWe) | Currently under construction capacity (MWe) | Planned capacity (MWe) | Proposed capacity (MWe) | Potential capacity (MWe) | Government capacity target (MWe) | Additional capacity* required to meet government target (MWe) | Total capacity (MWe) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| - | - | - | 5014 | 9618 | - | 9,000 (The upper limit of the 6-9 GWe objective) | (exceeded by planned and proposed capacity) | 14,632 |
| *Capacity additional to operable, under construction, planned, proposed and potential capacities required to meet the government target. | ||||||||
Readiness Assessment
Poland continues to make progress towards its first and second large-scale construction projects. In parallel, OSGE expects to start up its first BWRX-300 reactors ahead of both projects.
| Country Category | Newcomer |
|---|---|
| Policy Framework Readiness | Moderate-High There is strong cross-party commitment to nuclear energy and established nuclear legislation and programme. The principal concern is that the June 2026 Polish Nuclear Power Programme update is still pending final government adoption. |
| Institutional & Infrastructure Readiness | Moderate-High PEJ, the National Atomic Energy Agency (PAA) and the wider institutional framework are functioning and undergoing licensing activity. Regulatory staffing, workforce scale-up, grid delivery and radioactive waste infrastructure require continued development. |
| Programme & Project Development Readiness | Moderate-High The first plant now has approved state aid, construction licence application, site works and advanced financing arrangements; the second plant and OSGE SMRs are also progressing. |
| Target Achievability | Moderate The scheduled starts for both the first and second plants have been pushed back. While these revised targets are more practical, progress is required on both those plants and the SMR programme to achieve their respective planned start-up dates. |