Rybnik power station

From Global Energy Monitor

Rybnik power station is an operating power station of at least 875-megawatts (MW) in Rybnik, Śląskie, Poland with multiple units, some of which are not currently operating.

Location

Table 1: Project-level location details

Plant name Location Coordinates (WGS 84)
Rybnik power station Rybnik, Rybnik, Śląskie, Poland 50.13406, 18.52196 (exact)[1]

The map below shows the exact location of the power station.

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Unit-level coordinates (WGS 84):

  • Unit 1, Unit 2, Unit 3, Unit 4, Unit 5, Unit 6, Unit 7, Unit 8, Unit 9, Unit CC1: 50.13406, 18.52196

Project Details

Table 2: Unit-level details

Unit name Status Fuel(s) Capacity (MW) Technology CHP Start year Retired year
Unit 1 retired coal - bituminous 225 subcritical 1972 2021
Unit 2 retired coal - bituminous 225 subcritical 1972 2021
Unit 3 retired[2] coal - bituminous 225 subcritical 1973 2023[2]
Unit 4 retired[2] coal - bituminous 225 subcritical 1974 2023[2]
Unit 5 operating coal - bituminous 215 subcritical 1978
Unit 6 operating coal - bituminous 215 subcritical 1978
Unit 7 operating coal - bituminous 220 subcritical 1978
Unit 8 operating coal - bituminous 225 subcritical 1978
Unit 9 cancelled coal - bituminous 910 supercritical 2013
Unit CC1 pre-permit[3][4] fossil gas - natural gas[5] 900[6][5] combined cycle[5] 2027[3][7][8]

CHP is an abbreviation for Combined Heat and Power. It is a technology that produces electricity and thermal energy at high efficiencies. Coal units track this information in the Captive Use section when known.

Table 3: Unit-level ownership and operator details

Unit name Owner Parent
Unit 1 PGE Energia Ciepła SA [100.0%]
Unit 2 PGE Energia Ciepła SA [100.0%]
Unit 3 PGE Energia Ciepła SA [100.0%]
Unit 4 PGE Energia Ciepła SA [100.0%]
Unit 5 PGE Energia Ciepła SA [100.0%]
Unit 6 PGE Energia Ciepła SA [100.0%]
Unit 7 PGE Energia Ciepła SA [100.0%]
Unit 8 PGE Energia Ciepła SA [100.0%]
Unit 9 PGE Energia Ciepła SA [100.0%]
Unit CC1 PGE Energia Ciepła SA [100%] Polska Grupa Energetyczna SA

Background

Rybnik Power Station is a subcritical coal plant owned by the Polish power company EDF Group. It consisted of eight units of 200 to 225 MW each, commissioned from 1972 to 1978.[9]

In October 2017, PGE Group acquired the Polish assets of EDF, on condition that PGE sell most of the electricity generated by the Rybnik coal plant via the power exchange.[10]

Retirements

In 2018, PGE said it would close 450 MW of coal-fired capacity at the plant by 2021 because of pending EU clean air standards.[11]

In September 2020, PGE said it planned to close units 1 and 2 (450 MW total) in August 2021, while unit 3 (225 MW) would be retained as back-up from August 17, 2021 to December 31, 2022, when it would be permanently shuttered along with unit 4 (225 MW). The company gave no reason behind the decision to shut down four of the plant’s eight units.[12][13]

Units 1 and 2 retired in August 2021 as planned. The decision of the Management Board of PGE GiEK to decommission the units was dictated by the European Union's new environmental standards (so-called "BAT conclusions").[14]

In March 2022, Units 3 and 4 were given a proposed one year extension, and they were expected to be decommissioned in 2023.[15]

PGE retired Units 3 and 4 on December 31, 2023.[16]

New coal plant now proposed to be gas

In 2011, EDF proposed constructing a new 910 MW supercritical coal-fired power plant at the site. The project would involve the replacement of the four oldest units at the existing Rybnik plant, in line with EU environmental directives requiring the shutting down of the oldest production units from 2016. The new unit would burn 10% biomass and cost about 1.8 billion euros.[17]

In December 2012, EDF stated that the project was suspended due to projected decreases in energy demand and support for coal plants, and the decision by the European Commission not to allow the new Rybnik coal-fired unit to be included in the National Investment Plan of the Republic of Poland, Preventing EdF from getting CO2 emission allowances as allowed under Art 10c of the EU ETS directive.[18]

According to the NGO Banktrack: "The economic case for shelving the project is increasing. As of February 2012 both EdF and the Polish authorities exert strong pressure upon the European Commission to modify its decision from 13th of July 2012 and the company is heavily lobbying the Polish law-makers to maintain the current support for co-firing. Were the EDF to continue with the investment and the new unit completed it would produce approximately 4,7 million tones of CO2 per year."[18]

It was believed that, in 2013, EDF would decide whether to abandon the project or begin construction.[18]

In July 2013, EDF maintained its decision to suspend the new plant. In the meantime, EDF was planning to invest EUR 300 million in modernizing four existing units, which would produce approximately 4.7 million tons of CO2 per year,[19] and extend the lifespan of the four coal-fired units by around 15 years.[20]

In November 2015, it was reported that EDF was planning to sell its Rybnik power station. If sold, there was a possibility that the once proposed new unit at Rybnik could be brought back to life by the buyer.[21]

In October 2017, PGE Group acquired the Polish assets of EDF, on condition that PGE sell most of the electricity generated by the Rybnik coal plant via the power exchange.[22]

In March 2019, PGE said it was instead planning a new 700 MW gas unit at Rybnik.[23]

Gas plans

In January 2021, PGE announced the project would be a gas-fired 800 MW plant.[24] The power station is noted as being able to burn Hydrogen as part of its mix of fuels, although the exact percentages are unclear.[24]

Articles and Resources

References

  1. https://web.archive.org/web/20240125091319/https://datasets.wri.org/dataset/globalpowerplantdatabase. Archived from the original on 25 January 2024. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 https://rybnik.wyborcza.pl/rybnik/718013430578222elektrownia-w-rybniku-bez-kolejnych-blokow-weglowych-za-miliardy.html. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  3. 3.0 3.1 https://forsal.pl/biznes/energetyka/artykuly/8195511pge-giek-przetarg-na-budowe-bloku-gazowego-w-rybniku-w-najblizszych-miesiacach.html. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  4. https://web.archive.org/web/20240218205235/https://www.money.pl/gielda/pge-buduje-najwieksza-elektrownie-gazowa-zastapia-bloki-weglowe-6864643622927264a.html. Archived from the original on 18 February 2024. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 https://web.archive.org/web/20240124175213/https://pgegiek.pl/aktualnosci/gazowy-blok-energetyczny-wiodacym-wariantem-dla-nowych-mocy-w-elektrowni-pge-giek-w-rybniku. Archived from the original on 24 January 2024. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  6. https://web.archive.org/web/20240124231139/https://www.radio90.pl/najwieksza-elektrownia-gazowa-w-europie-powstanie-w-rybniku-podpisano-umowe.html. Archived from the original on 24 January 2024. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  7. https://web.archive.org/web/20240124184935/https://www.energate-messenger.com/news/214936/pge-replaces-coal-with-gas. Archived from the original on 24 January 2024. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  8. https://web.archive.org/web/20240124231030/https://www.pap.pl/aktualnosci/news%2C1520736%2Cw-rybniku-powstanie-najwieksza-elektrownia-gazowa-w-polsce-dla-pge-zbuduja. Archived from the original on 24 January 2024. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  9. "EDF Rybnik," EDF, accessed September 2012
  10. "Watchdog approves PGE's purchase of EDF's Polish assets, sets conditions," Reuters, October 5, 2017
  11. "IEEFA Europe: Looming EU anti-pollution standards undercut recent coal investments," IEEFA, November 27, 2019
  12. "PGE to close 900 MW of coal-fired capacity by 2023". www.montelnews.com. 2020-09-16. Retrieved 2020-09-23.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  13. "Polish utilities to close 2.1 GW of coal-fired plant in 2021". www.montelnews.com. 2020-12-01. Retrieved 2020-12-04.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  14. "PGE GiEK wyłączyła dwa bloki węglowe w Elektrowni Rybnik. W zamian będzie gaz," slaski Biznes, August 18, 2021
  15. "PGE GiEK chce przedłużyć życie dwóch bloków Elektrowni Rybnik," Rybnik.com.pl, March 23, 2022
  16. "Elektrownia w Rybniku bez kolejnych bloków węglowych. Za miliardy budują nowe na gaz," Wyborcza.pl, January 10, 2024
  17. "EDF will build in Rybnik, Poland, a highly efficient 900 MW supercritical coal-fired power plant," EDF, May 12, 2011
  18. 18.0 18.1 18.2 "Rybnik coal power plant," Banktrack, accessed March 2013
  19. "Rybnik coal power plant," Banktrack, accessed April 2014.
  20. "Power in Europe," Platts report, Issue 675, April 28, 2014 (subscription only)
  21. "Energa i Enea rozważają współpracę przy projekcie w Ostrołęce," cire.pl, November 17, 2015
  22. "Watchdog approves PGE's purchase of EDF's Polish assets, sets conditions," Reuters, October 5, 2017
  23. "Stępiński: PGE opencasts to cover?" Biznes Alert, March 14, 2019
  24. 24.0 24.1 Gazowy blok energetyczny wiodącym wariantem dla nowych mocy w elektrowni PGE GiEK w Rybniku, PGE Górnictwo i Energetyka Konwencjonalna, January 15, 2021

Additional data

To access additional data, including interactive maps of the power stations, downloadable datases, and summary data, please visit the Global Coal Plant Tracker and the Global Oil and Gas Plant Tracker on the Global Energy Monitor website.