Ostroleka power station

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{{#badges: CoalSwarm|Navbar-Polandandcoal}} The Ostrołęka Power Station is a coal-fired thermal power station in Ostrołęka, Poland.

A new 1,000 MW coal unit, Ostroleka C, has been proposed at the power station.

Location

The undated satellite ohoto below shows the Ostroleka Power Station in Masovian.

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Background on existing plant

Ostroleka Power Station is owned by Energa. The power station consists of two parts. The Ostrołęka A combined heat and power plant has an installed capacity of 93MW electricity and 456MW of heat, built in 1956 to 1958. It was retired in 2015. The Ostrołęka B power station was built in 1972. It consists of three units with combined installed capacity of 647MW.[1]

Proposed power station

Construction of a new 1,000 MW unit, known as Ostroleka C, had been expected to start in 2013 with commissioning scheduled in 2015. Coal would be supplied by coal from the Bogdanka coal mine.[2]

In September 2012 ENERGA S.A. announced that it had suspended plans to build the new plant due to problems securing financing. The company said that it would continue looking for a strategic partner but failure to secure one would mean freezing the project until more beneficial market conditions prevail. In October 2012 Energa said it was considering switching from coal-fired generation to using gas as a feedstock fuel for the shelved unit, and may also reduce the unit’s proposed capacity by more than half to 450 MW.[3]

During a visit to Ostroleka in October 2015, the president of the Law and Justice party declared the government will return to the exploration of coal mines for Polish energy independence, and will revive plans for the Ostroleka coal plant.[4]

In November 2015 it was reported that Energa and Enea are considering cooperating in the construction of the new unit at Ostroleka. However, talks are at a very preliminary stage.[5]

In September 2016 Energa and Enea signed a letter of intention regarding development of a 1,000 MW coal plant in Ostroleka. They say permits for the plant are still valid, and the companies plan to call for tenders before end-2016 to begin construction. The planned completion date is 2023.[6]

In December 2016 Energa and Enea began planning to invite bids to build the plant.[7] It is planned for commissioning on December 31, 2023.[8]

In September 2018, Enea’s shareholders voted in favor of the company joining the project with Energa.[9]

In October 2018 a groundbreaking ceremony was held at the power station.[10]

Shortly after the groundbreaking ceremony, ClientEarth launched legal action against Enea over the company’s decision to participate in the consortium proposing to build the 1000 MW Ostroleka C plant. ClientEarth, which is a shareholder in Enea, argues the project poses an unacceptable risk to investors due to rising carbon prices, competition from cheaper renewables and exposure to European Union energy reforms on state subsidies for coal power plants. The investment agreement between Enea and Energa, the other utility in the consortium, allows either utility to withdraw from the project before the commencement of construction if it is considered that the plant will be unprofitable.[11]

Construction began in December 2018. The general contractor for the plant's construction is a consortium of GE Power and Alstom. The plant is reported to be ultra-supercritical.[12]

In August 2019, a Polish district court ruled as invalid Enea's 2018 decision to join the project with Energa. Enea said it will appeal the decision.[9]

Project Details of proposed plant

  • Sponsor: ENERGA S.A., Enea
  • Parent company: ENERGA Elektrownie Ostroleka S.A., Enea
  • Developer:
  • Location: Ostroleka, Masovian, Poland
  • Coordinates: 53.103611, 21.6125 (exact)
  • Status: Construction
  • Capacity: 1000 MW
  • Type: Ultra-supercritical
  • Start date: 2023
  • Coal Type: Hard coal/biomass
  • Coal Source: Bogdanka coal mine
  • Source of financing:

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