Westinghouse Electric Company and Bechtel have signed a formal agreement to partner on the design and construction of a nuclear power plant at the Lubiatowo-Kopalino site in Pomerania, thereby supporting the commercial operation of the AP1000 nuclear reactor in Poland in 2033.
While the project’s licensing and engineering work is under process, the consortium and Polish utility Polskie Elektrownie Jądrowe are expected to sign an engineering services contract soon. Poland selected the Westinghouse AP1000 reactor technology for its nuclear energy program in November 2022.
“This is a team with demonstrated ability to deliver on large nuclear energy projects,” said David Durham, President for Energy Systems, Westinghouse. “The fleet experience we have earned with our advanced, proven AP1000 technology, including a 100% complete design and construction lessons learned, will serve Poland well as it seeks decarbonization and increased energy security.”
The AP1000 is an operating Generation III+ reactor with fully passive safety systems, modular construction design, and the smallest footprint per MWe on the market.
In the U.S., at the Vogtle site in Georgia, one AP1000 unit is producing power for the grid, while a second unit completed its initial fuel load with commercial operations expected to start by the end of 2023 or early 2024.
In China, four AP1000 reactors are setting operational performance and availability records, with six additional reactors under construction. Bulgaria also selected the AP1000 technology for its new reactor program, and the technology is also being considered at sites in Central and Eastern Europe, the United Kingdom, and North America.
“Together, we have both the proven technology and the hands-on experience required to build Poland’s first-ever nuclear energy program,” said John Howanitz, President of Bechtel’s Nuclear, Security & Environmental global business unit. “We are eager to partner with the local workforce, suppliers, and community to deliver the clean and reliable energy Poland needs.”
