Tauron plans 3.5 billion zloty overhaul of Siersza coal plant

Sept 23 (Reuters) - Polish utility Tauron TPE.WA said on Wednesday it plans to redevelop its Siersza coal power plant with investments of up to 3.5 billion zlotys ($919 million), adding gas, storage and solar capacity to the site.

The plan is part of a broader push by Tauron to transition its coal power plants to lower-emission, flexible sources supplemented by renewable energy and battery storage.

• The project portfolio includes up to 800 megawatts (MW) of new capacity, with coal units at the site set to operate at least until end-2027.

• The company plans to bid in the next capacity market auction to keep coal units running through 2028, with potential operation until 2030 subject to national and EU regulations.

• Plans include an open-cycle gas turbine unit of around 630 MW, which could become the site's main generation source after 2030.

• Tauron also plans a large-scale energy storage facility, solar installations and a waste thermal treatment project at the site.

($1 = 3.8075 zlotys)