Rybnik Power Station

Rybnik Power Station is a 1775 MW plant on the outskirts of Rybnik, Silesia, in Poland, owned by the Polish power company EDF Group. The Group has proposed constructing a new 910 MW supercritical coal-fired power plant at the site.

Location of Rybnik Power Station - approximate area only

Background
Rybnik Power Station is owned by the Polish power company EDF Group and was commissioned in 1972.

EDF has proposed constructing a new 910 MW supercritical coal-fired power plant at the site. The project would involve the replacement of the four oldest units at the existing Rybnik plant, in line with EU environmental directives requiring the shutting down of the oldest production units from 2016. The new unit would burn 10% biomass and cost about 1.8 billion euros.

Project suspended
In December 2012 EDF stated that the project was suspended due to projected decreases in energy demand and support for coal plants, and the decision by the European Commission not to allow the new Rybnik coal-fired unit to be included in the National Investment Plan of the Republic of Poland, Preventing EdF from getting CO2 emission allowances as allowed under Art 10c of the EU ETS directive.

According to the NGO Banktrack: "The economic case for shelving the project is increasing. As of February 2012 both EdF and the Polish authorities exert strong pressure upon the European Commission to modify its decision from 13th of July 2012 and the company is heavily lobbying the Polish law-makers to maintain the current support for co-firing. Were the EdF to continue with the investment and the new unit completed it would produce approximately 4,7 million tones of CO2 per year."

It is believed that in 2013 EDF will decide whether to abandon the project or begin construction.

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