PGE Energia Odnawialna has signed a loan agreement with the Polish National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management (NFOŚiGW) under the National Recovery Plan (KPO) to modernise the Porąbka-Żar pumped-storage power plant, a 540 MW facility crucial for Poland’s energy storage capacity.
The total planned cost of the project is PLN 203,382,192 net, with the approved financing amounting to PLN 152,642,282. The work covers the refurbishment of the upper reservoir, upper and lower water intakes, pipelines, and derivation tunnels, along with necessary ancillary works.
Porąbka-Żar has been operating for over 40 years and plays a vital role in balancing the national power grid, especially as Poland integrates more renewable energy sources.
Modernisation scope and contractors
The modernisation of the upper reservoir included renewing the asphalt-concrete linings on the slopes and bottom, installing new sealing and drainage layers, restoring expansion joints near the upper water intake, and removing bottom sediment. These measures restore the reservoir’s tightness and ensure safe operation for decades to come.
Work on the hydrotechnical infrastructure – including the upper and lower water intakes, derivation pipelines, the outflow tunnel, and the surge chamber – increases the plant’s reliability and reduces the risk of failure.
The upper reservoir upgrade was carried out by a consortium led by Energoprojekt Warszawa with Walo Polska. The waterway modernisation was executed by Energoprojekt Warszawa as the general contractor, with only Polish subcontractors: Hzbud, Eurodarmal, J.T.C., SJEnergia, and Enprom.
Strategic significance for energy transition
Dariusz Lubera, CEO of PGE Polska Grupa Energetyczna, stated: – Energy transition is not only about developing low- and zero-emission generation sources, but also about building strong domestic technological competencies. Thanks to the support of nearly PLN 153 million from KPO funds, we have modernised the upper reservoir and the waterway of one of the largest energy storage facilities in Poland – the Porąbka-Żar Pumped-Storage Power Plant with a capacity of 540 MW.
He added: – This is an excellent example of effectively implementing the local content strategy and harnessing the potential of domestic enterprises. Thanks to such investments, the funds allocated for energy transition not only strengthen our energy security but also drive the development of Polish industry.
Krzysztof Müller, CEO of PGE Energia Odnawialna, commented: – The Porąbka-Żar Pumped-Storage Power Plant has been one of the pillars of the national power system for decades. Thanks to the modernisation, we have restored full functionality to key infrastructure elements, extending the facility’s safe and reliable operation for many years. The KPO financing confirms that energy storage investments are now an essential part of the energy transition and the effective development of renewable energy sources in Poland.
The project’s goal was to restore and improve the operational parameters of strategic infrastructure components that had been in continuous use for over 40 years.
Źródło: WNP.PL, Fot. Materiały prasowe / PGE
