As Rzeczpospolita writes, the application for derogation was submitted by the Ministry of the Climate and the Environment in February 2025, and its procedure lasted several months. Poland argued that extending the functioning of older power plants is necessary to ensure energy security, market stability and predictability of energy prices. As the EC indicates, the implementation of derogation will also make it easier to facilitate investments in flexible generating powers, energy storage and renewable energy sources.
The final decision of the Commission takes into account Polish arguments, but He imposes three conditions: assessment of resource sufficient resources, an analysis of the profitability of withdrawal or construction of new units over a period of 10 years and detailed plans for renovation of energy units.
Older power plants, which often work only 1000-1500 hours a year, despite limited working time, are necessary as a reserve supporting renewable energy sources. That is why the government has prepared additional financial support within the power market. In the first complementary auction for the second half of this year, 5051 MW of power was contracted, of which the largest part was PGE. The next auction will take place on September 17, 2025, writes Rzeczpospolita.
It is estimated that The average annual cost of the power market in 2025–2028 will amount to approx. PLN 8.5-9 billion, and the EC decision gives a conditional possibility of maintaining older coal units by 2028 to ensure the stability of the Polish energy system, adds “Rzeczpospolita”.
