Warsaw has revised its nuclear energy strategy for the first time since 2020, confirming that Poland’s inaugural atomic power station will begin operations in 2036—three years behind the original timeline—whilst a second facility is now scheduled for 2040, a year later than previously envisaged.
According to Notes from Poland, the delays were widely expected given that the country had already fallen behind the timetable established by the previous Law and Justice (PiS) administration. Nevertheless, the current government insists that nuclear power remains on course to deliver between 15% and 16% of the nation’s electricity generation within the next decade and a half.
Energy minister Miłosz Motyka wrote on social media that the updated Polish Nuclear Power Programme represents more than just new generating capacity. “We are building a nuclear sector that will drive the Polish economy and serve our security for decades to come,” he said.
Two plants totalling up to 9 GW capacity
The revised programme calls for the construction of two nuclear facilities with a combined capacity of between 6 GW and 9 GW, both employing large-scale Generation III+ reactor technology. The first station, to be built at Choczewo on the Baltic coast, will have an output of approximately 3.75 GW and is being developed in partnership with an American consortium comprising Westinghouse and Bechtel.
Preparatory work at the site is already under way. Last year the European Commission approved Polish state aid worth 60.2 billion zloty (€13.8 billion) to support the project between 2025 and 2030. In March this year the investor applied for a construction permit from the National Atomic Energy Agency, with the first nuclear concrete due to be poured in 2028. Commercial operation of the inaugural reactor is now expected to commence in 2036.
A second nuclear power plant is planned to break ground in 2032, with its first unit anticipated to go live around 2040. Bełchatów and Konin in central Poland remain the preferred locations, both offering existing energy infrastructure and significant experience in electricity generation. Companies from the United States, France and Canada are currently bidding to supply the technology and construct the facility, with Warsaw due to select its partner next year.
Boosting Polish industrial participation
The government has set an ambitious target for domestic involvement in the nuclear sector. Polish firms are expected to account for roughly 40% of the value of the first reactor project, a share that could climb to as high as 70% for subsequent units as local companies acquire expertise, experience and the necessary certifications.
Officials also plan to develop a broader skills base through collaboration with universities, research institutes, technical schools and businesses. In parallel, Poland is pursuing small modular reactor (SMR) projects, which are factory-built before being installed on site and are promoted as a faster and more affordable route to nuclear capacity.
Weaning Poland off coal
The nuclear expansion forms part of a wider strategy to reduce Poland’s historic dependence on coal, which still generates around half of the country’s electricity—the highest proportion in the European Union. A decade ago coal accounted for 87% of Polish power generation, whilst renewables supplied just 9%. Today renewables provide 29% of the energy mix.
Under a national energy and climate plan approved in June, Poland aims by 2040 to cut coal’s share to between zero and 5%. Nuclear is projected to contribute 15–16%, gas 7–8%, and the remainder will come from renewables: onshore wind (22–27%), offshore wind (18–21%) and solar (14–18%).
What this means for Poles in Poland
The updated nuclear timetable signals a long-term transformation of Poland’s energy landscape, with tangible implications for households and businesses. As nuclear and renewable sources expand, electricity supply is expected to become more stable and less vulnerable to coal price fluctuations and fossil fuel imports. This could help to moderate energy bills in the long run, though significant upfront public investment—over 60 billion zloty for the first plant alone—means near-term costs remain substantial.
For workers in Poland’s coal regions, the shift presents both challenges and opportunities. While coal-dependent jobs will continue to decline, the nuclear programme is expected to create thousands of skilled positions in construction, engineering and plant operation, particularly in Choczewo, Bełchatów and Konin. The government’s target of 40% to 70% domestic content means Polish companies and technical schools will play a central role in training and certification, offering new career paths in a growing sector.
Further details on the Polish Nuclear Power Programme are available from the Ministry of Climate and Environment. Those interested in emerging job opportunities in the nuclear industry should monitor announcements from the National Atomic Energy Agency and the investor consortia over the coming years.
