Poland faces risk of power shortages

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Electricity grid operator PSE is recording a growing demand for power. In morning peak hours on July 30, the demand amounted to 21,800 MW, which is 500 MW more than a month earlier.

Demand always grows in the summer, when temperature grows and Poles turn on cooling devices. An increasing number of air conditioners has an important share in that.

“Over the past years there has been no risk in terms of electricity supply security,” Beata Jarosz from PSE told Dziennik Gazeta Prawna. “But Poland must prepare for possible difficulties in the area after 2015.”

Possible shortages would result not only from increased demand, but also from potential supply difficulties as old power generation units are closed down.

According to estimates from the Polish Electricity Association, more than 3,000 MW will be excluded from the system in 2016 alone. By 2019, the figure will reach 6,000 MW.

Energy sector companies are trying to make up for the lost supply by building new units that will comply with contemporary environmental requirements, including those imposed by the European Union.

Next year should see the completion of combined cycle gas and steam plants in Stalowa Wola (built by Tauron an PGNiG) and in Wloclawek (built by PKN Orlen). PGE's Opole units, Enea's investment in Kozienice and Tauron's Jaworzno plant, providing a total of 4,000 MW, will only be ready by 2019. (kw/pg)