Poland’s largest coal-fired power stations have begun limiting electricity output as an intense heatwave pushes Vistula water levels too low for open-cycle cooling at two Enea-managed plants. The combined shortfall at Połaniec and Kozienice is estimated at around 2000 MW, forcing the transmission system operator to prepare emergency measures.
Enea Wytwarzanie started reducing generation at Elektrownia Połaniec on 3 August. The plant draws cooling water from the Vistula, and prolonged high temperatures have cut the river’s flow, forcing operators to adjust the work of selected units. On 4 August, the affected blocks at Połaniec were B2, B3, B5, B6 and B7, while B1, B4 and B9 remained in service. These are the so-called dwusetki, coal units with capacity between 200 and 250 MW.
– The Połaniec plant is continuously monitoring the hydrological situation. Due to persistently low water levels, the operation of selected generating units is being adjusted to current operating conditions. These measures are operational in nature and are meant to ensure safe operation of the units and continuity of electricity supplies – said the Połaniec power plant.
Vistula drought hits two large power plants
The situation is similar at Elektrownia Kozienice, which also sits close to the Vistula. According to data for 4 August, unplanned outages or output reductions affected units B2, B3, B4, B5 and B7, while B1, B6 and B8 worked without problems. Data from the Polish Power Exchange (TGE) show that water-related losses from the dwusetki at Kozienice exceed 1000 MW, and Połaniec is short by a similar amount.
Enea Wytwarzanie says it records periodic fluctuations in river flows and lower water levels, especially during high temperatures and long periods without rain.
– This phenomenon is particularly important in the area where Elektrownia Kozienice operates, where the availability of water from the Vistula has a direct impact on the stability of technological processes and the security of the National Power System – said Enea Wytwarzanie.
– Enea Wytwarzanie is constantly monitoring the hydrological situation of the Vistula. The company supervises parameters related to water intake and discharge and analyses hydrological conditions, including drought – stressed Enea Wytwarzanie.
Planned overhauls deepen the reserve crunch
The outages at the two river plants are not the only strain on the grid. Poland’s biggest generating unit, the coal-fired B11 at Kozienice, is offline for a planned overhaul, taking 1075 MW out of the system. The same applies to unit 14 at Elektrownia Bełchatów, an 858 MW block run by PGE Górnictwo i Energetyka Konwencjonalna, which is also undergoing scheduled maintenance at a time when it would have been needed.
A 130 MW unit at Elektrociepłownia Siekierki is in emergency repair as well. These failures and maintenance works created a risk that the power reserve would fall too low, so Polskie Sieci Elektroenergetyczne (PSE) announced a capacity market call for Tuesday, 4 August 2026, from 17:00 to 19:00. Participants on the capacity market are paid to respond to such calls by supplying or reducing power when the operator needs them.
Źródło: WNP.PL, Fot. CameraCraft / Shutterstock
