Energo: Poland's largest gas power plant, PGE Gryfino Dolna Odra, officially launched

Polska Grupa Energetyczna (PGE) has inaugurated Poland's largest gas-fired power plant, PGE Gryfino Dolna Odra, marking yet another step in the country’s energy transition. Located in Gryfino, West Pomeranian Voivodeship, the new combined cycle gas turbine (CCGT) plant consists of two units, each delivering a gross capacity of 683 MW, and collectively can meet around 5% of Poland’s electricity demand, equivalent to the energy needs of 3mn households.

The project was realised by a consortium led by GE Vernova, alongside Polimex Mostostal, after a nearly one-year delay. Initially scheduled for a late 2023 start, the project experienced setbacks but officially launched on 29 October 2024. The facility replaces ageing coal units at the Dolna Odra power plant, in line with PGE’s decarbonisation strategy and Poland's wider energy security goals.

PGE Gryfino Dolna Odra’s CCGT units achieve a thermal efficiency of over 63%, considerably surpassing Poland’s older coal-fired plants. This level of efficiency enables a 330g CO2/kWh emissions rate, about one-third of the emissions produced by previous coal units. Additionally, the plant’s design meets stringent EU BAT (Best Available Techniques) standards, reducing particulate and sulphur dioxide emissions to near-zero levels.

The plant’s operational flexibility is pivotal for balancing the national grid, given Poland's expanding renewable energy sources. Capable of reaching its minimum technical capacity within 30 minutes from a hot start and four hours from a cold start, Gryfino’s rapid responsiveness is designed to stabilise fluctuations in renewable output, particularly from wind and solar.

Under a 17-year capacity market contract effective from 2024, PGE Gryfino Dolna Odra will serve as a reliable energy source, addressing growing demands for steady backup to Poland's renewable energy framework.