Poland’s largest power utility, PGE, plans to cease electricity production at its four remaining coal-fired units at the Rybnik power plant by the end of 2025, according to a report from the Polish Press Agency. The units, which collectively generate 900 megawatts (MW), have capacity market contracts running until this deadline. While coalcontinues to dominate Poland’s electricity generation, profitability is declining as state-controlled utilities like PGE shift towards renewable energy. Additionally, banks are increasingly reluctant to finance coal-based operations.
PGE has already phased out four coal-fired units at the Rybnik plant and is preparing to replace them with an 882 MW gas-fired unit, scheduled for commissioning by the end of 2026. The company reiterated that the decision to end coal production was made in 2020. The timeline for ending heat production at the coal-fired units has been extended to August 31, 2026.