Poland Make Plans to Shut Down Europe's Most Polluting Power Plant by the End of 2036

Poland plans on closing the most polluting power plant in Europe by the end of 2036, a draft document released by local authorities said on Tuesday, after energy group PGE (PGE.WA)  discarded plans to develop an open-pit coal mine that will support it.

(Photo : Getty Images)

The Abandoned Plan

The document, which is subject to public consultation, is among the application of Lodz region for support from the European Union Just Transition Fund, which aim is to help regions carry the cost of shifting to a climate-neutral economy.

The document said PGE deserted a plan to develop an open-pit lignite coal mine in Zloczew to fuel the Belchatow plant after coming to a conclusion that the project would be worthless. The document also said Belchatow, whose operations were anticipated to be extended more than the 2030s by output from the mine, will also now be eliminated between 2030 and 2036.

Also Read: Nearly 50 Percent of All Thermal Coal-Fired Power Plants Plan To Defy the Paris Agreement Pledge To Mitigate Climate Change

Belchatow Vs. Zloczew 

Chief Executive Wojciech Dabrowski said in a statement: "Scheduling the dates of closing down the power units of the Belchatow Power Plant... (and) leaving the plan to utilize the Zloczew deposit are of fundamental cruciality for preparing for the future of the Belchatow Complex, the inhabitants of this region and its employees." 

He added that they are also symbolic, since the success of this project will greatly determine the success of the Polish energy transformation. The coal assets of PGE, both Belchatow and Zloczew, are due to be divided and relocated to a state agency within months as part of the plan of Poland to free its utilities from coal.

Most of Poland's electricity is generated from coal, but under increasing pressure from the EU and with carbon emission costs surging, it has urged more investment in low emission sources. Greenpeace's Joanna Flisowska said: "Finally, PGE has put a stop to pulling the wool over the eyes of people that it would build the Zloczew mine."

(Photo : Getty Images)

Power Plant Pollution

Power plants that make use of oil, coal, and other fossil fuels are usually not considered sustainable.The fuels are unlimited supply and bring about environmental, animal, and human health problems when burned.

Strict emissions regulations have lessened the pollution problem a bit, but air and water pollution, water usage, heavy metals, and older power plants contribute to pollution issues that is in progress. Fossil fuels generate the most electricity. Petroleum, coal, and natural gas are used to produce around  65 percent of the electricity in the United States, as stated by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA).

Of the chief energy sources, natural gas represented a 33.8 percent portion, and coal represented 30.4 percent. By making comparison, nuclear power generation had a 19.7 percent portion and renewables had a sum of 14.9 percent. 

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