Authors: Jakub Ochmann, Henryk Łukowicz, Sebastian Lepszy, Łukasz Bartela
This paper examines the feasibility of repowering the Kozienice coal-fired power plant in Poland through the Coal-to-Nuclear (CtN) pathway, with a particular focus on the availability of cooling water resources. The study explores how existing coal power infrastructure could be partially reused for the deployment of nuclear energy technologies, potentially reducing investment costs and supporting workforce continuity during the energy transition.
The analysis evaluates three nuclear reactor technologies considered for future deployment in Poland and assesses their cooling requirements using the Vistula River as the water source. The research highlights the importance of environmental constraints linked to water temperature and river flow conditions, especially during periods of low hydrological availability. The paper contributes to discussions on the technical limitations and site-selection challenges associated with inland coal-to-nuclear conversion projects.
The paper is highly relevant to coal plant repowering because it investigates one of the critical technical constraints affecting Coal-to-Nuclear conversion projects: cooling water availability. By analysing the reuse of existing coal power infrastructure alongside nuclear deployment requirements, the study provides insight into the environmental and operational challenges associated with inland nuclear repowering strategies in Poland.
