Polish Power Grids (PSE) is considering building its own generation source, including: to ensure additional available power for the security of the power system in the coming years – said Maciej Bando, Deputy Minister of Climate in response to the interpellation.
The Deputy Minister of Climate and Environment, who serves as the Government Plenipotentiary for Strategic Energy Infrastructure, in response to a parliamentary interpellation, said that, according to the explanations received from Polskie Sieci Elektroenergetyczne (PSE), the transmission system operator (TSO) is considering building its own generation source, among others . to ensure additional available power in the coming years in order to maintain the operational security criteria of the power system.
Additional available capacity is needed
According to the deputy minister’s response, the implementation of the TSO’s own power resources is planned in 2024-2029.
In accordance with the Development Plan submitted for consultation by PSE for meeting the current and future demand for electricity for 2023-2032, additional available power is required in the coming years to ensure the security of operation of the power system. It was added that this goal can be achieved, among others: by building new, controllable generation sources or electricity storage facilities.
It was noted that the basic mechanism ensuring the appropriate level of available capacity in the National Power System (National Power System) is the capacity market, operating since 2018.
As part of this mechanism, investments in generation resources are made by external entities, however, the observed rate of increase in new capacity may not be sufficient to balance the increase in demand for power and to restore the available capacity of withdrawn generation sources powered by hard coal and lignite – it was noted.
In accordance with the scenarios adopted by PSE, the construction of a generating source (one or several) fired with gas or liquid fuel, based on a gas turbine or a set of piston engines with a total power of approximately 500 MW, is being analyzed.
An alternative is to build a battery storage facility for electricity or several such storage facilities with similar power, but with a capacity allowing for at least 8 hours. work with the available power.