TABLE 1. ESTIMATED AVAILABLE ENERGY SOURCES

	Estimated available energy sources
	Fossil Fuels			Nuclear	Renewables
	Solid	Liquid	Gas	Uranium	Hydro	Other renewable
Total amount in specific units*	82.030	22	216	7272	n.a.	n.a.
Total amount in exajoules (EJ)	1710.75	0.97	8.12	3.64	n.a.	n.a.

* Solid, liquid: million tonnes; gas: billion m³; uranium: metric tonnes; hydro, renewable: TW.

n.a.: data not applicable.

Sources: Polish Geological Institute, Natural Resources Statistics for 2016 (Bilans zasobów zlóz kopalin w Polsce wg stanu na 31 XII 2016 r., Warsaw 2017); Red Book 2016 OECD–NEA; heat values based on IEA manual.

TABLE 2. ENERGY STATISTICS

Million Terajoule (TJ)									Average annual growth rate (%)
Years	1970	1980	1990	2000	2005	2010	2015	2016	2000 to 2016
Energy consumption**
- Total	3.53	5.21	4.33	3.71	3.86	4.22	4.00	4.18	0.75
- Solids***	2.90	4.02	3.30	2.36	2.29	2.29	2.02	2.05	–0.88
- Liquids	0.37	0.77	0.56	0.80	0.91	1.08	1.01	1.11	2.07
- Gases	0.22	0.37	0.38	0.42	0.51	0.54	0.58	0.61	2.36
- Nuclear
- Hydro	0.01	0.02	0.01	0.01	0.01	0.01	0.01	0.01	0.00
- Other renewables	0.03	0.03	0.07	0.16	0.19	0.30	0.38	0.33	4.63
Energy production
- Total	4.00	5.10	4.34	3.29	3.26	2.79	2.82	2.78	–1.05
- Solids***	3.76	4.85	4.14	2.96	2.86	2.31	2.24	2.18	–1.89
- Liquids	0.02	0.01	0.01	0.03	0.04	0.03	0.04	0.04	1.81
- Gases	0.18	0.19	0.10	0.14	0.16	0.15	0.15	0.15	0.43
- Nuclear
- Hydro	0.01	0.02	0.01	0.01	0.01	0.01	0.01	0.01	0.00
- Other renewables	0.03	0.03	0.06	0.15	0.18	0.28	0.35	0.33	5.05
Net import (Import– Export)
- Total	-0.46	0.11	0.03	0.37	0.67	1.32	1.17		7.46

** Energy consumption = Primary energy consumption + Net import (Import–Export) of secondary energy.

*** Solid fuels include coal, lignite.

Source: Eurostat online (Complete energy balances — annual data, nrg_110a) [retrieved 2018-05-10].

Adopted by the Government in November 2009, the main objective of the energy policy is to enhance the country’s energy security by observing the principle of sustainable development. The key directions of the Polish energy policy are:

• To improve energy efficiency;

• To enhance security of fuel and energy supplies;

• To diversify the electricity generation structure by introducing nuclear power;

• To develop the use of renewable energy sources, including biofuels;

• To develop competitive fuel and energy markets;

• To reduce the environmental impact of the power industry.

Polish energy policy is primarily driven by European Union directives and requirements. In particular, Poland is required to liberalize its electricity market in line with EU directives. The Polish electricity market gradually opened to competition in 1998 and was fully opened on 1 July 2007, in accordance with EU directives. At present, all customers are now eligible to choose their supplier. Poland also adopted all EU regulations regarding market liberalization and security of supply relatively quickly, compared with some other countries that started market transformation earlier.

Therefore, Poland focuses on maximizing the use of existing domestic energy resources. Also, as part of the EU’s “20-20-20” goals, the following targets were set for Poland for 2020:

• Limit greenhouse gas emissions in the sectors not covered by the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (EU-ETS) to 14% above the 2005 level (binding target);

• Reduce energy consumption by 20% of the projected 2020 levels (non-binding);

• Increase the share of renewable energy to 15% of gross final energy consumption, including an increase of the renewables in transport to 10% (binding target).

Since October 2014, after the EU adopted new climate policy goals, Poland has sought to fulfil its obligation to reduce CO₂ emissions in ETS sectors (which includes the power sector) by 43% in relation to 2005 levels. This will require a significant change in the Polish energy mix; nuclear power will play a vital role in the new mix.

The government aims to enhance the security of the electricity supply through the following measures:

• Continuing to use coal as a domestic fuel for power generation to the extent possible in terms of new EU climate policy goals;

• Building new generating capacity (including nuclear units and new highly efficient cogeneration plants);

• Developing and modernizing the national transmission system;

• Developing cross-border connections to an extent that does not jeopardize energy security and the safe operation of the power system;

• Modernizing and extending the distribution grids.

The development of renewable energy sources and an increase in energy efficiency will also be beneficial for the security of the electricity supply.

Today, the Polish electricity sector is characterized by ageing infrastructure. More than 70% of its generating capacity is over 30 years old, emphasizing the requirement for substantial new investment in the short and medium term to satisfy electricity and heat demand. Electricity networks are witnessing similar investment challenges: nearly 80% of 400 kV lines and 99% of 220 kV lines are over 20 years old.

The Polish electric energy sector is divided into four subsectors — generation, distribution, transmission, and sales.

There are 17 large power plants (or groups of power plants) and 19 combined heat and power stations (CHPs). The total capacity installed in the electric energy generation sector is over 43 000 MW(e). Most power units date back to the 1970s and 1980s, and will have to be closed between 2020 and 2040.

There is only one national transmission system operator (PSE S.A., www.pse.pl), and the company is fully independent of other electricity activities.

Distribution system operators function as independent companies within four strong vertically structured groups (PGE, TAURON, ENEA, ENERGA) and one smaller DSO (RWE, now Innogy).

Electricity sales are carried out by approximately 100 companies. Since 2013, most of the electricity generated by Polish power stations has been traded on the Polish Power Exchange (https://tge.pl/en).

TABLE 3. ELECTRICITY PRODUCTION, CONSUMPTION AND CAPACITY

									Average annual growth rate (%)
	1970	1980	1990	2000	2005	2010	2015	2016	2000 to 2016
Capacity of electrical plants (GW(e))*
- Thermal	11.38	20.66	25.99	28.37	29.78	29. 91	29.96	29.78	0.30
- Hydro**	0.74	1.30	1.89	2.18	2.32	2.34	2.37	2.39	0.58
- Nuclear
- Wind					0.12	1.11	4.89	5.75	48.76
- Geothermal
- Other renewable
- Total	12.12	21.96	27.88	30.55	32.22	33.36	37.22	40.85	1.83
Electricity production (TWh)*
- Thermal	62.64	118.59	120.13	128.10	139.45	138.25	137.40	136.95	0.42
- Hydro	1.89	3.28	3.28	4.07	3.74	3.46	2.41	3.06	–1.77
- Nuclear
- Wind					0.14	1.66	10.73	12.28	55.98
- Geothermal
- Other renewable				0.04	0.29	0.09	0.16	—	9.05 (for 2015)
- Total1	64.53	121.87	123.41	132.21	143.62	143.46	150.70	152.00	0.88
Total electricity consumption (TWh)	59.02	109.44	124.71	124.58	131.19	144.45	150.37	164.63	1.11

¹ Electricity transmission losses are not deducted.

* Net values.

** Excluding pumped storage.

—: no data available.

Sources: Eurostat online (Supply, transformation and consumption of electricity — annual data, nrg_105a, nrg_113a) [retrieved 2018-05-11]; www.pse.pl [retrieved 2018-05-11].

TABLE 4. ENERGY RELATED RATIOS

	1970	1980	1990	2000	2005	2010	2015	2016
Energy consumption per capita (GJ/capita)	108.09	145.80	111.10	97.24	102.21	109.28	103.41	n.a.
Electricity consumption per capita (kWh/capita)	1 807	3 063	3 276	3 257	3 438	4 092	4 283	4 388
Electricity production/Energy production (%)	5.8	8.6	11.96	15.89	17.49	20.21	20.96	n.a.
Nuclear/Total electricity (%)	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0
Ratio of external dependency (%)1	–13.03	2.11	3.31	9.4	17.69	31.3	29.2	30.3

¹ Net import/Total energy consumption.

n.a.: data not available.

Sources: Polish Energy Market Agency report 2016; http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/en/web/products-datasets/-/T2020_RD320 [retrieved 2018-05-28]; https://www.iea.org/statistics/statisticssearch/report/?year=2015&country=POLAND&product=Indicators [retrieved 2018-05-28]; https://www.iea.org/media/training/alumni/CheatSheet.pdf [retrieved 2018-05-28].

The first plans to launch a nuclear power programme in Poland were made in 1956. Nuclear energy was perceived as a tool to reduce internal coal consumption (on which the entire Polish energy sector was based), as it would have made it possible to save precious natural resources or export the coal. Such a justification was found in the reports of scientific councils commissioned by the government.

A full nuclear fuel cycle was considered for Poland.

In the 1960s, plans to construct the first merchant ships with nuclear propulsion in the Gdansk Shipyard were made. For this purpose, designs of nuclear units with pressurized water reactors (PWRs) and SCHWR reactors were drafted. Due to the low price of oil on the global markets, these plans were stopped in the late 1960s.

Between 1945 and 1967 uranium was mined in several places in Poland, especially in the Sudety Mountains. The mining was carried out by a company called Zaklady R-1 (the ‘R-1 Facility’), where uranium ore with 0.2% uranium content was sold to the Soviet Union. Over 800 tonnes of raw material (calculated in respect to pure uranium) was obtained. In 1965, all the resources of uranium ore with 0.2% uranium content were mined out and at the same time the Soviet Union refused to buy the ore with lower uranium content. The management of Zaklady R-1 therefore decided to build a yellowcake production plant, which would deliver uranium concentrate for export purposes out of the ore with uranium content lower than 0.2%. The plant started production in 1967 and continued to operate until the end of 1972, when the Government Commissioner for Nuclear Energy decided to close down Zaklady R-1 due to uranium mining becoming unprofitable because of high mining costs, the low price of uranium ore on the global markets and the diminishing resources of uranium rich ore.

Until 1971, the Government had not made any binding decisions on the construction of nuclear power plants (NPPs). In 1971, it decided to build the first nuclear plant and a year later it designated Zarnowiec near Gdynia (by the Baltic Sea) as its site.

TABLE 5. NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS UNDER CONSTRUCTION IN POLAND IN THE 1980s

Reactor	Type	Net capacity	Construction start (first concrete)	Construction cancellation
Zarnowiec-1	WWER-440/213	427	3/1984	9/1990
Zarnowiec-2	WWER-440/213	427	3/1984	9/1990
Zarnowiec-3	WWER-440/213	427	Ground excavation works and reactor manufacturing were started	9/1990
Zarnowiec-4	WWER-440/213	427	Ground excavation works and reactor manufacturing were started	9/1990
Warta-1 (Klempicz)	WWER-1000/320	950	1988 (design works)	4/1989
Warta-2 (Klempicz)	WWER-1000/320	950	1988 (design works)	4/1989
Warta-3 (Klempicz)	WWER-1000/320	950	Not started
Warta-4 (Klempicz)	WWER-1000/320	950	Not started
Total net power (8 units)	5508 MW(e)

According to plans made in 1973, a total of 10 (7860MW(e)) or 12 (9860MW(e)) nuclear units across several locations were to have been commissioned by the end of 2000.

The construction of Zarnowiec NPP was delayed until 1982. It was to consist of four units with Soviet-designed WWER-440/213 reactors, which were to be upgraded in compliance with the recommendations of the International Atomic Energy Agency and the requirements of the Polish nuclear regulator. Power units of Zarnowiec NPP were to be equipped with turbines of Polish production (manufactured on an ABB licence) in a single-unit system (one turbine per one reactor) with higher efficiency and power than typical Soviet turbines in a double-unit system (two turbines per one reactor). The gross electrical power was 465 MW(e) instead of 440 MW(e). Moreover, the whole turbine island was designed in Poland and it was to be supplied with equipment provided by Polish manufacturers with a localization rate of 70%. Units 3 and 4 were to be CHP units and supply heat for the needs of the central heating system of the Tri-city area (Gdansk–Sopot–Gdynia). The power plant was to be cooled by water from Zarnowieckie Lake (open cooling system). Economic considerations resulted in slow progress, but the quality was high due to the implementation of the first Polish quality assurance system.

The high quality of civil works was confirmed by the IAEA’s pre-OSART mission, carried out between 2 and 15 September 1989. Next, from 26 to 30 March 1990, a successive IAEA mission — the Site Safety Review Mission — confirmed the suitability of the Zarnowiec site selection. From 26 to 27 April 1990 and 29 April to 4 May 1990, the IAEA held a mission to evaluate the containment structure and confirmed the quality of its design and realization. However, on 4 September 1990, the Government decided to cancel construction and scrap the project. At that time, the completion rate of the NPP was 40%, though the infrastructure was at 90%. The equipment that had been ordered was subsequently sold or scrapped. It is estimated that the decision to cease the construction caused direct losses of at least USD 2 billion (in 2014 prices).

A second power plant was also planned. In 1987 the government assigned its location in Klempicz to the north of Poznan. The construction (designing, ground excavation and infrastructure construction) was started in 1988 and stopped in 1989. That power plant was to have a closed cooling system with cooling towers and it was to be based on four WWER–1000/320 units of Soviet design, similar to the Temelín NPP in the Czech Republic.

FIG 1. Current organizational chart.

In the model of Polish nuclear power, the four following main subjects can be distinguished:

1. The Nuclear Energy Department of the Ministry of Energy (NED ME), which supports the appropriate Minister for Energy in outlining and coordinating the strategy of nuclear power development implementation. Outlines of nuclear energy development will be prepared by NED. NED ME acts as the Nuclear Energy Programme Implementing Organization (NEPIO).

2. PGE EJ1 is a state controlled energy utility, an investor in and future operator of the first NPP. It is directly owned by the PGE Polska Grupa Energetyczna S.A., together with other power utilities, such as Tauron S.A., Enea S.A. and KGHM S.A. (a mining company), as minority owners.

3. PAA (Panstwowa Agencja Atomistyki, National Atomic Energy Agency) is a national nuclear regulator.

4. ZUOP (Zaklad Unieszkodliwiania Odpadów Promieniotwórczych, Radioactive Waste Management Plant) is a radioactive waste management state utility which will deal with the radioactive waste generated by NPPs. A substantial part of the costs of radioactive waste management, including spent fuel from NPPs, will be covered by the operator (investor) of the NPP.

TABLE 6. STATUS AND PERFORMANCE OF NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS

Reactor Unit	Type	Net Capacity [MW(e)]	Status	Operator	Reactor Supplier	Construction Date	First Criticality Date	First Grid Date	Commercial Date	Shutdown Date	UCF for 2017
ZARNOWIEC-1	PWR	427	Cancelled Constr.	EJZ	SKODA	1984-03-01				1990-09-04
ZARNOWIEC-2	PWR	427	Cancelled Constr.	EJZ	SKODA	1984-03-01				1990-09-04

Data source: IAEA - Power Reactor Information System (PRIS).

Note: Table is completely generated from PRIS data to reflect the latest available information and may be more up to date than the text of the report.

Not applicable.

The EPP 2030, adopted by the Council of Ministers on 10 November 2009, envisages nuclear power development in the medium term (i.e. into the 2020s).

The Ministry of Economy is currently working on an update — Polish Energy Policy until 2050 — which takes into account the new framework of EU climate policy and its deep CO₂ emissions reductions goal. The draft document recognizes nuclear power as a main tool for implementation of EU climate policy. On 29 January 2014, the Council of Ministers adopted the Polish Nuclear Power Programme (PNPP). The programme initially stated that the construction of the first nuclear unit should start in 2019 and should be commissioned by the end of 2024, at the latest. It was planned that by 2035 two plants would have started operation, each with a total capacity of about 3,000 MW(e) (net) (i.e. 4–6 power generating units).

The PNPP is available here:

http://www.mg.gov.pl/files/upload/10960/PPEJ%20eng.2014.docx

After performing some technical and economic analyses, the investor (owner/operator) will make a decision about the possible use of the plant for heating purposes (CHP).

Refer to Section 2.1.2.

The Nuclear Energy Department of the Ministry of Energy plays the role of NEPIO.

The nuclear regulator is the president of the National Atomic Energy Agency (NAEA), operating with the assistance of the agency, who is responsible for nuclear regulation in Poland.

The activities of the president of the NAEA, as a central body of government administration for nuclear safety and radiological protection, are regulated by the Act on Atomic Law of 29 November 2000 (Dz. U. [Journal of Laws] 2007. No. 42. Item 276 with subsequent amendments). In June 2011, the Parliament endorsed an amendment to the Atomic Law which came into effect on 1 July 2011. Its aim was to adjust the Atomic Law to the regulations of the nuclear regulator and to transpose the 2009/71 Euroatom Directive of 25 June 2009, determining a common nuclear safety framework for nuclear facilities, into Polish law. New implementation regulations to the Atomic Law have also been published. They contain the requirements on nuclear safety and radiological protection, in particular the criteria for site location; design; safety analyses and a safety report; and commissioning, operation and decommissioning of a nuclear power facility.

Since 1 January 2002, the president of the NAEA is subordinate to the Minister of the Environment.

The significant elements of the nuclear safety and radiological protection system implemented by the president of the NAEA are the following:

• Regulating the activities for which nuclear materials and ionizing radiation sources are used, realized through granting permissions for such activities or their registration;

• Regulating the methods employed in these activities and regulating occupational radiation doses;

• Supervising training of nuclear regulatory inspectors and inspectors of radiological protection (experts in nuclear safety and radiological protection functioning in units operating on the basis of granted licences) and employees working with ionizing radiation. Maintaining control over radioactive material turnover;

• Maintaining a record of radioactive sources and their users. Maintaining a central record of individual doses, and, in the case of activities employing nuclear materials, administrating a detailed register and accounts of them; endorsing plans of physical protection and control of applied technologies;

• Monitoring radiation on the territory of Poland through coordination (together with standardization) of operation of local facilities measuring radiation doses, radionuclide content in chosen elements of natural environment and in drinking water, food products and fodder;

• Maintaining services ready to recognize radiation conditions and to react in the case of radiation occurrences (in cooperation with other bodies and services operating within the National Emergency Response System);

• Performing activities with the aim of fulfilling Poland’s duties resulting from treaties, conventions and international agreements on nuclear safety and radiological protection.

In reference to nuclear power facilities (including power plants), radioactive waste repositories as well as radioactive waste and spent fuel storage bunkers, the president of the NAEA grants permissions within nuclear safety and radiological protection for their:

• Construction;

• Commissioning;

• Operation;

• Decommissioning.

As of 2016, the number of employees in the NAEA was 120.

In addition to the nuclear regulator, there is an Office of Technical Inspection, which regulates conventional parts of NPPs such as turbines, generators, cranes, non-nuclear pipes and cables. However, it is only a support institution for the NAEA, as the NAEA is the only nuclear regulator.

Radioactive Waste Management Utility (ZUOP)

ZUOP operates national radioactive waste repositories and will also build a spent fuel repository in the future. Financial responsibility for waste handling will go to the nuclear power facility operator, who will be obliged to accumulate funds for this purpose and to finance activities in this field.

Owners/operators of nuclear power facilities

The owners/operators of nuclear power facilities will be responsible for a number of duties, in particular following:

• Accumulating funds for preparation of storage and the storage of radioactive waste and spent fuel;

• Accumulating funds for decommissioning of nuclear power facilities;

• Decommissioning of facilities after their operation cycle has finished;

• Fulfilling legal requirements of legal liability for nuclear damage;

• Emergency planning.

After an NPP completes its lifetime, the operator will be obliged to decommission the facility according to NAEA requirements resulting from the accepted schedule of decommissioning.

Throughout the whole period of construction preparation, construction, operation and decommissioning of the plant, the investor/operator will be obliged to carry out informational and educational activities directed at the host and neighbouring communities of the nuclear facilities. In particular, the investor/operator is obliged to set up a centre (for each nuclear power facility) which would perform the role of information and education centre for nuclear power.

Other national institutions

According to IAEA recommendations, the responsibilities of the national administration in managing nuclear power development should be delegated to a specially appointed organizational unit NEPIO. Currently, this role is played by the Department of Nuclear Energy in the Ministry of Energy.

Duties within the field of nuclear power development will be carried out by the following institutions:

• Ministry of Energy — NEPIO;

• National Atomic Energy Agency — nuclear regulator;

• Energy Regulatory Office (ERO);

• Office of Technical Inspection (OTI) and other Polish inspection institutions;

• Institutions concerned with environmental protection and industrial development;

• Institutions responsible for safety, physical protection and emergency planning;

• Local governor (‘Voivoda’) from the province where the investment will be located.

Additionally, the realization of the nuclear power programme will require the participation of many other ministries and offices (Ministry of the Environment, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Science and Higher Education, Ministry of National Education, Ministry of Entrepreneurship and Technology, Ministry of Investment and Economic Development, Ministry of the Interior and Administration, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Infrastructure, Ministry of Labour and Social Policy, Ministry of Regional Development and Internal Security Agency) .

The duties of the two most important institutions for the implementation of the programme (NAEA and ME) were described earlier in this section.

Other ministries and national administration offices are engaged directly or indirectly in the realization of the PNPP:

The President of the Energy Regulatory Office

As is the case for other electrical energy and heat producers, NPP operators will be required to obtain a licence for electrical energy production (and perhaps also heat) issued by the president of ERO.

The Office of Technical Inspections (OTI) and other inspection institutions in Poland

These will carry out all technical inspection activities not connected with nuclear safety and radiological protection (NSRP).

The Voivoda appropriate for the province where the investment is to be located

The Voivoda from the province where the investor (owner/operator) is interested in constructing a power plant will issue a decision on site indication and a decision about the location of the nuclear power facility.

An estimated cost of main Government activities related to nuclear power programme implementation from 2014 to 2030 is projected to amount to about PLN 489.963 million (ca. EUR 117 million). A detailed list of expenses can be found in appendix 2 of the PNPP (pages 144–145):

[http://www.mg.gov.pl/files/upload/10960/PPEJ%20eng.2014.docx] (up to 2024)

The NPP itself may be financed using various sources. Currently, the government is preparing a new financing scheme not based on British type CfDs, as was preferred until 2015.

FIG 2. Scheme of the extra high voltage National Transmission Network (NTN).

The National Transmission Network (NTN) is comprised of 220 kV and 400 kV lines. The 220 kV network is well developed and interconnected, whereas the 400 kV network is relatively well developed only in the south of the country. In eastern and northern Poland there are still ‘radial’ lines which are at particular risk of disturbances and lengthy blackouts.

One of the most important barriers for introducing new units of over 1000 MW(e), regardless of type, to the Polish Power System (PPS) is the lack of an adequately developed 400 kV transmission network. Moreover, a proper level of active power (second and minute redundancy) regulation services should be provided. Together with the development of nuclear power, decisive steps must be taken to accelerate the activities connected with the development of the network regarding both the stations and the network.

The only transmission system operator (TSO) in Poland is Polskie Sieci Elektroenergetyczne S.A. (PSE).

In 2013, PSE and PGE commissioned a feasibility study of NPP connection to the grid. The results indicate that there are no major technical obstacles, though some reinforcement of the transmission system in northern Poland will be needed. The cost of reinforcement will be included in the NPP project and the increase in NPP investment costs will be moderate.

In 2009, the Ministry of Economy updated the list of NPP sites considered up to 1990 in cooperation with local authorities. New proposals from local authorities were also collected. On this basis, a new list of 28 potential locations of NPPs was prepared.

In 2010, the Ministry of Economy commissioned A Study of Criteria of Nuclear Power Plant Locations and Their Initial Evaluation. This study ranked locations based on the considerations of expert opinions, using 17 evaluation criteria.

The results were published on the Ministry of Economy web site and passed on to the potential owner/operator of the first Polish NPP for further research and analysis.

PGE SA started further analyses of the first four sites on the list (Zarnowiec, Warta–Klempicz, Kopan, Nowe Miasto). Choczewo and Lubiatowo–Kopalino joined the other sites due to their coastal location, which is characterized by more favourable cooling conditions than those of locations inland, and potentially better economic conditions for electrical energy production. In November 2011, PGE selected three sites for detailed studies: Choczewo, Gaski and Zarnowiec. The last one was a site of NPP construction during the 1980s, with available infrastructure and with detailed environmental, seismological, hydrogeological, meteorological and other relevant documentation based on previous studies. The Gaski site is no longer being considered due to a lack of local public acceptance.

The most important factors taken into account in the process of site selection are: the area available for the construction of the power plant and its facilities, access to sufficient amounts of cooling water and raw water (for technological and social needs), the possibility of power take-off from the plant, the geological structure and seismic stability of the area, hydrogeological characteristics, population density and distribution in the vicinity of the plant, restrictions on the construction and operation of the power plant due to the conditions of the surrounding area, including environmental protection area development, accessibility to communication routes, lack of threats from nature or human activities and suitable meteorological conditions.

In January 2013, PGE concluded a tender for performing detailed site studies for three potential sites indicated by the owner/operator. The winning bid was made by Worley Parsons. However, in December 2014 the utility cancelled the contract with Worley Parsons due to significant delays caused by the contractor. PGE declared the studies will be carried on by the utility itself with the help of subcontractors.

In Poland, there are several research institutes related to nuclear energy. Four of them are supervised by the Minister of Energy:

The National Centre for Nuclear Research (NCBJ), Otwock-Swierk, was created in 2011 through the merging of the POLATOM Institute for Atomic Energy (IEA) and the Soltan Institute for Nuclear Studies (IPJ) (which originate in the Institute of Nuclear Research, founded in 1955), with the aim to optimize the management of resources located in the Swierk Research Centre. The institute is equipped with the 30 MW(th) MARIA research reactor and deals with reactor physics and nuclear engineering, nuclear safety, radiation protection, radioactive waste management, application of nuclear techniques in industry, science, environmental protection, solid state physics, and computing techniques. It also carries radioisotope production and irradiation services as a part of the global radioisotope supply chain.

The Institute of Nuclear Chemistry and Technology (ICHTJ), Warsaw, specializes in radiation chemistry and technology, application of nuclear methods in material and process engineering, design and production of instruments based on nuclear techniques, radiation analytical techniques and environmental research. Basic research is focused on radiochemistry, chemistry of isotopes, physical chemistry of separation processes, cellular radiobiology and radiation chemistry.

The Central Laboratory for Radiological Protection (CLOR), Warsaw, carries out work in the fields of monitoring environmental radioactivity; personal dosimetry; controlling the use of radioactive sources; research on mechanisms of influence of radiation upon biological organisms; behaviour of radionuclides in the environment; development of dosimetry methods; calibration, control and standardization of dosimetry equipment; and training for radiological protection officers.

The Plasma Physics and Laser Microfusion Institute (IFPiLM), Warsaw, carries out studies in basic plasma physics and its implementation in the area of magnetic confinement fusion, inertial confinement fusion and pulsed high power technology. Most research and technology related projects are carried out with international cooperation in the framework of the fusion programme of the Euratom community, High Power Energy Research (HiPER) project and other European projects.

There are also many institutes and other scientific and research centres dealing with nuclear energy (including power), physics, chemistry and nuclear medicine:

The Henryk Niewodniczanski Institute of Nuclear Physics (IFJ) of the Polish Academy of Sciences (PAN), Kraków, specializes in theoretical and experimental research in the following fields: high energy and elementary particle physics, physics of the structure of the nucleus and of nuclear reaction mechanisms, studies of the structure, interactions and properties of condensed matter, and applications of nuclear methods in geophysics, radiochemistry, medicine, biology, environmental physics and materials engineering.

The Institute of Heat Engineering of the Faculty of Power and Aeronautical Engineering of the Warsaw University of Technology (ITC), Warsaw, pursues its research activities in the following main areas: clean coal technologies; fluidized boilers; methods for modelling boilers and turbines under off-design conditions; research methods in transitional states; power system structures; communal and industrial power economy; fuel cells in power technology; flow and heat meters (for certification purposes); retrofits of small and medium size steam turbines; retrofits of steam boilers, especially the fluidized ones; power unit simulators; advanced control devices; reliability problems in power engineering systems and energy supply; centrifugal pumps; power plants; power management (environmental protection, central heating); characteristics of large pumps — in situ measurements; experimental studies of combustion phenomena such as ignition, flame propagation, detonation of gaseous and heterogeneous mixtures, flammability and explosive limits, suppression of combustion and explosions; computer simulations of combustion and detonation processes; measurement and recording of extremely high speed processes; measurement of thermal properties; heat storage; computer methods in heat transfer; thermoelectric energy conversion, current generation; photothermal solar energy conversion; sources and energy conversion.

The Faculty of Physics and Applied Computer Science of the University of Science and Technology (AGH), Krakow, is involved in theoretical and experimental aspects of elementary particle physics, solid state physics, theoretical and computing physics, nuclear electronics, radiation detectors, X ray fluorescence and micro dosimetry, hydrology and gas chromatography, nuclear geophysics, effective energy conversion, medical physics and industrial radiometry. The research programmes are carried out in close collaboration with many international laboratories and centres (e.g. DESY, CERN).

Institute of Applied Radiation Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Lódz University of Technology (MITR), Lódz, specializes in physical chemistry, with an emphasis on radiation chemistry and radiochemistry, as well as many topics in chemical physics, photochemistry and spectroscopy, polymeric physicochemistry, biophysics and biochemistry.

The above listed research institutes together with other institutes and universities will comprise TSOs (technical support organizations) for nuclear regulators and/or operators of a nuclear facility. In 2011, the NAEA signed respective agreements on cooperation with IEA POLATOM (now NCBJ) and the PAN Institute of Geophysics.

Poland does not have its own nuclear industry yet, and is collaborating with other countries on the development of new technologies in the meantime. Polish institutes (mainly NCBJ and IChTJ) are involved in the EURATOM framework. NCBJ is involved mainly in Sustainable Nuclear Energy Technology Platform (SNETP) activities, among them the Allegro gas cooled reactor project and the European Sustainable Nuclear Industrial Initiative (ESNII), also a coordinator of the NC2I project focusing on the nuclear cogeneration concept. IFPiLM and NCBJ are involved in the ITER project on the scientific and technical level.

Aside from the projects mentioned in Section 2.8.2, Poland is a member of the International Project on Innovative Nuclear Reactors and Fuel Cycles (INPRO) and of the International Framework for Nuclear Energy Cooperation (IFNEC) (formerly the Global Nuclear Energy Partnership (GNEP)). The institutes take part in numerous activities carried out by different organizations and platforms such as: EURATOM Supply Agency, OECD–NEA, IGD-TP, COST, IRPA, MELODI. The IChTJ is a Collaborating Centre for Radiation Processing and Industrial Dosimetry of the IAEA.

The NAEA is an institution of nuclear regulation. The agency was founded in the early 1980s and managed the licensing process of the Zarnowiec NPP and other nuclear facilities in Poland.

The activities of the president of the NAEA are described in Section 2.3.2.

The Atomic Law and other acts for implementing the law define regulations on the requirements for:

1. Radiological protection (of employees, population and patients).

2. Nuclear and radiation safety, including:

• Safety of nuclear facilities;

• Handling of nuclear materials and sources of ionizing radiation;

• Radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel;

• Transport of radioactive materials and sources as well as spent nuclear fuel and radioactive waste;

• Evaluation of radiation conditions and emergency procedures.

3. Physical protection (of nuclear facilities and nuclear materials).

4. Non-proliferation of nuclear materials and technologies (protection).

5. Legal liability for nuclear damage.

The licensing process is regulated by the Amendment to the Atomic Law accepted by the Parliament and signed by the President in June 2011.