Nuclear has role in Poland says IEA

Nuclear has role in Poland says IEA

from World Nuclear News by Jeremy Gordon

Poland should focus on energy efficiency, nuclear energy, carbon capture and storage and renewables, as well as continuing to expand natural gas infrastructure in its efforts help meet energy security and climate change objectives. This forms some of the conclusions of the first OECD International Energy Agency (IEA) review of the country's energy policies since it became a member in 2008. Poland currently relies on coal to meet 55% of its primary energy demand and over 90% of electricity production but has embarked upon a nuclear power program that that would see three reactors up and running by 2030. Speaking at the report launch, IEA executive director Nobuo Tanaka said, "The government has a well-structured plan to prepare its nuclear program, including institutional and legal frameworks for nuclear regulation and the management of radioactive waste." Tanaka highlighted the fact that ageing generation infrastructure provided the perfect opportunity over the next decade for investment that would "set Poland's long term emission trajectory." Over the past two years Poland has signed agreements with reactor vendors to investigate potential reactor choices such as Areva's EPR, GE-Hitachi's ABWR and ESBWR and Westinghouse's AP1000.