What is needed to unlock decarbonisation of industrial energy users with nuclear energy in Poland

The document outlines a series of 'must-have' and 'nice-to-have' recommendations for the Polish state and the European Union to unlock SMR deployment. For Poland, priorities include durable political support, flexible financing models like adjustable Contracts for Difference (CfDs), national coordination for technology down-selection, and a dedicated workforce development framework. It also emphasizes the need to streamline permitting for SMRs on industrial sites, potentially leveraging the EU's Net-Zero Industrial Act (NZIA). At the EU level, the document calls for increased funding from existing and future funds (MFF 2028-34), a more relaxed State Aid process, and the formal recognition of nuclear technology's contribution to decarbonisation goals. Additionally, it suggests that Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries pursue joint procurement and a coordinated approach to reproduce successful pilot projects to achieve economies of scale.

• To unlock SMR deployment in Poland, the state must provide high-level political support and maintain flexibility in financing models, specifically considering Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) with state-backed guarantees and Flexible Contracts for Difference (CfDs) where the strike price can be adjusted for the first 1-5 units of a design to manage cost escalation.
• National coordination is required to optimize SMR deployment, including the down-selection of a single design for 5-15 units to benefit supply chains, the use of buyers' clubs for demand aggregation, and the provision of energy as a service for consumers unable to own generation assets.
• Poland needs to address regulatory and permitting bottlenecks for SMRs on industrial sites by establishing clear siting and licensing guidelines and utilizing the EU's Net-Zero Industrial Act (NZIA) through regulatory sandboxes and 'Valleys and Acceleration Areas'.
• At the European Union level, the document recommends relaxing or accelerating the State Aid process to avoid blocking private investment and securing project funding from the Innovation Fund, Just Transition Fund, EU Competitiveness Fund, and the upcoming MFF 2028-34.
• The document suggests that Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries should collaborate through joint procurement and a coordinated approach to reproduce a successful pilot project to overcome market fragmentation and capture downstream value in manufacturing and maintenance.

APA

Clean Air Task Force (2026). What is needed to unlock decarbonisation of industrial energy users with nuclear energy in Poland. https://www.catf.us/resource/what-is-needed-to-unlock-decarbonisation-of-industrial-energy-users-with-nuclear-energy-in-poland/

Chicago

Clean Air Task Force. What is needed to unlock decarbonisation of industrial energy users with nuclear energy in Poland. 2026. https://www.catf.us/resource/what-is-needed-to-unlock-decarbonisation-of-industrial-energy-users-with-nuclear-energy-in-poland/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Clean Air Task Force |title=What is needed to unlock decarbonisation of industrial energy users with nuclear energy in Poland |date=28 January 2026 |url=https://www.catf.us/resource/what-is-needed-to-unlock-decarbonisation-of-industrial-energy-users-with-nuclear-energy-in-poland/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{cleanairtaskforce2026what, author = {{Clean Air Task Force}}, title = {{What is needed to unlock decarbonisation of industrial energy users with nuclear energy in Poland}}, institution = {Clean Air Task Force}, year = {2026}, month = jan, url = {https://www.catf.us/resource/what-is-needed-to-unlock-decarbonisation-of-industrial-energy-users-with-nuclear-energy-in-poland/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }