Modernizacja i rewitalizacja istniejących bloków węglowych ważnym warunkiem stabilności sektora wytwarzania elektryczności

Polish power technologies mainly use fossil fuels. Despite a significant increase in the installed capacity from renewable sources, it still makes up more than 90% of the total volume of the electricity produced. Another important characteristic of the generation infrastructure is the advanced age of the majority of the blocks (especially 200 MW). At the stage of implementation are currently four coal-fired blocks with a capacity of approximately 1000 MW. Morever one lignite unit of 500 MW is planned. Economic calculations show that the investment for these blocks is justified by the price of electricity PLN 240-270 / MWh. The observation of the wholesale price indicates, however, that they are significantly lower, with the continuous trend of decline (fig. 4). This means that the introduction of new blocks of high-power to the system at the current price of coal is rather unjustified. Consequently, it pointed to the desirability of other technological solutions. One of them is the extension of the operation of the existing infrastructure by 200 MW. The article presents evidence to undertake a program of modernization and revitalization of the 200 MW class units for the extension of their use to 2035-2040. The fundamental problems needed to be resolved for the fulfilment of appropriate environmental criteria (including BAT conclusions) and technological ones (mainly increase the flexibility of the heat) have been specified. The paper also outlined the scope of scientific research and industrial applications.