Country plans to deploy three AP1000 units in mid-2030s
Poland has completed the first phase of in-depth geological surveying at the site of its planned first nuclear power station at the Baltic coast in Pomerania, state-owned developer Polskie Elektrownie Jądrowe (PEJ) said.
The geological work focused on the Lubiatowo-Kopalino site, northwest of Gdansk, where three Westinghouse-made AP1000 pressurised reactor units are to be deployed.
PEJ said the site studies, conducted in collaboration with US-based engineering and construction firm Bechtel, involved more than 30 drilling rigs and extensive geotechnical surveys directly beneath the planned nuclear islands and related infrastructure.
Drilling reached depths of over 200 metres, with around 22 km of boreholes completed and more than 10,000 samples collected and 7,000 laboratory tests conducted. As part of hydrogeological survey work, 122 hydrogeological boreholes were also drilled, the data from which will be used to create a hydrogeological model of the site, design the excavation and drainage systems, and analyse the chemical composition of groundwater, PEJ said.
"The results of these surveys are crucial for selecting safe and appropriate engineering solutions for the plant’s design," said Piotr Piela, vice-president of PEJ.
The soil conditions, mainly clay and sand, were deemed suitable for nuclear facility construction, with no solid rock encountered. Research teams also identified an artesian aquifer, hydrogen sulfide pockets, and glacial boulders, all of which will inform further technical planning.
Bechtel Poland’s president Leszek Hołda said the findings provide critical insights into ground conditions for designing the reactors’ foundations and other infrastructure.
PEJ said the results will be used for the project’s site report and preliminary safety report, both required as part of the application for a construction permit.
The second phase of geological research is scheduled for 2026, pending administrative approvals, and will cover a broader area including roads and non-nuclear facilities.
Poland’s first nuclear power station will be central to the country’s goal of launching nuclear power generation by the early 2030s, part of a broader plan to diversify and decarbonise its energy mix and boost energy security.
In 2022, Warsaw chose US-based Westinghouse to supply its AP1000 pressurised water reactor technology for the Lubiatowo-Kopalino nuclear station. In 2023, Westinghouse and Bechtel formed a consortium for the project.
The latest schedule is for construction of the first of three units to start in 2028, with commercial operation of that unit in 2036.
