Tauron announces 17 billion PLN plan for 26 projects at four coal plants

Investment scope across four legacy sites

Polish energy group Tauron presented an investment plan of up to 17 billion PLN across 26 individual projects at the Energy Days conference in Katowice on Thursday, 1 October 2026. The program targets the sites of four conventional coal power plants: Jaworzno, Siersza, Łaziska, and Łagisza. Company executives explained that the selected locations reflect the requirements of a just economic transition in Silesian industrial areas. The projects are designed to complement Tauron's primary development track in renewable energy, which includes onshore wind and energy storage with planned capital expenditures of approximately 3.5 billion PLN over the next few years. Group leadership stressed that proposed gas-fired units, including gas engines and open-cycle gas turbines, will balance intermittent renewable generation rather than directly replace coal.

Waste-to-energy and new capacity in Jaworzno

During the conference, Tauron and the municipality of Jaworzno signed a letter of intent to develop a thermal waste treatment installation at the local power plant site. Mayor Paweł Silbert signed the agreement on behalf of the city, initiating a formal feasibility study for the waste-to-energy project. Similar waste treatment facilities are also planned for the Siersza and Łaziska power plants. Vice President for Asset Management and Development Michał Orłowski noted that Tauron is considering eight new projects in Jaworzno totaling up to 7 billion PLN, which could provide up to 1.7 GW of new generation capacity. Chief Executive Officer Grzegorz Lot outlined the company's requirement for stakeholder support during project development.

The transition must be just, reasonable, but of course it also must be profitable.

Grid flexibility and peaking capacity

Tauron is focusing on fast-ramping gas units to provide balancing power as renewable generation expands across the national grid. Orłowski explained that peaking assets capable of starting within fifteen minutes are necessary to maintain system stability.

The more renewable energy sources there are, the higher the demand will be for units that can start up within a dozen or so minutes and then begin producing energy.

In Jaworzno, the company has already started work on a peaking gas installation that secured approximately 4 billion PLN in nominal capacity market support starting in 2030. The company is currently contracting transformers for the project, with construction tenders scheduled to begin between late 2026 and early 2027. Under long-term plans, two older coal blocks at Jaworzno will be replaced by a new 630 MW open-cycle gas turbine unit.

Coal unit maintenance and European market rules

Alongside new investments, Tauron is managing the intensive operation of its existing 200 MW conventional coal units. Increased reliance on Jaworzno III raised the utilization rate of its 200 MW units, creating technical strains on pressure components and flue gas ducts.

In response, the utility increased repair spending and prepared an intensified maintenance campaign for upcoming quarters. In parallel, a 290 million PLN modernization program for the 910 MW block in Jaworzno concluded on Monday, funded roughly by retained guarantees from a past contract with Rafako. Tauron's 200 MW class units won capacity auctions for all units entered for 2027, and the group intends to keep two to four Jaworzno blocks in reserve through 2029 and 2030. Lot expressed confidence in European Union mechanisms to maintain commercial operations.

Today we see that there is a chance, there are mechanisms at the European Union level that could allow extending the commercial operation of these units to 2029-30. This is our offer. Each of these units will be ready to compete for 2028.