Poland starts receiving electricity from Ukrainian nuclear power plant

On May 15, the Rzeszów-Chmielnicka power line started transmitting electricy to Poland from Ukraine's Chmielnicka Nuclear Power Plant.  

The current inter-system exchange plan includes the import of Ukrainian energy to Poland during nighttime hours and from 9 am to 3 pm, with transmission capacities reaching 200 MW.

The export of Polish electricity to Ukraine is also possible but not planned for the immediate hours. The energy flow through the new connection began on April 27 with test transmissions but is now utilized for commercial energy trading.

Transmission capacity auctions are organized on both sides of the border, with the Polish side managed by Polskie Sieci Elektroenergetyczne and the Ukrainian side by Ukrenergo. The Ukrainian auctions are expected to take place daily. The inter-system exchange plan for May 15, 2023, shows the scheduled import and export of energy between Poland and Ukraine in different hours of the day.

The connection between Rzeszów station in Poland and the Chmielnicka Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine was established using an inactive power line that required significant modernization and voltage adjustment. The total length of the line is nearly 400 km, with over 70% running through Ukrainian territory.

The Ukrainian investment cost 350 million hryvnias (approximately 40 million PLN), and Polish energy companies provided essential equipment to Ukraine free of charge. The estimated cost of the project on the Polish side is around 30 million PLN.

Source: businessinsider.com