Development of pro-ecological energy in Poland

Abstract

Poland is in the phase of adjusting its economy to the challenges of the energy and climate transition. The concept of the transition assumes a reduction in energy production from sources emitting greenhouse gases, including CO₂. The energy sector is the main sector included in the concept of the European Green Deal. In the EU, a 30% share of energy produced from RES by 2030 is assumed. For Poland, this means very significant obligations in the process of reducing energy production from high-emission conventional sources. This will mean accelerating the development of production from ecological sources, including wind farms, photovoltaic farms, and the generation of energy from biogas and biomass. It will be necessary to launch energy production from nuclear power.

In view of the above, the article refers to documents shaping Poland’s energy policy, namely: Energy Policy of Poland until 2040 and National Development Concept 2050. The aim of the article is to present the development of pro-ecological energy in Poland, its adaptation to the requirements of sustainable development: to present trends in Polish energy in the years 2020–2025, and to present the development trends of energy generation and distribution in Poland until 2040. The following research questions were posed in this study:

1. Which renewable energy sources are used in Poland?
2. Does the implementation of pro-environmental energy policy threaten energy security?
3. How does electricity prosumption contribute to the pro-environmental development of the Polish energy sector?

After conducting the analysis, the answers to these research questions are as follows:

1. in the analysed period 2020–2025, both ecological energy sources based on biomass, biogas, and gravitational systems, as well as solar and wind energy, are utilized. Photovoltaic energy is developing the most dynamically. Other sources have relatively low installed capacity. A decline in production and installed capacity in coal-fired power plants is also observed,
2. during 2020–2025, the fastest growth occurs in photovoltaic installations. These installations are highly dependent on weather conditions, time of day, and season, and they possess very high installed capacity. The nature of their operation causes significant energy surpluses or shortages in the power system within very short periods. This entails substantial risks in maintaining proper energy quality parameters. In extreme cases, it could lead to a blackout, representing a serious threat to Poland’s energy security,
3. prosumer energy generation in Poland, as a phenomenon, clearly supports the development of pro-environmental energy. However, its implementation faces challenges. Poland is experiencing an uncontrolled increase in the number of PV installations, while other renewable energy sources are developing relatively slowly. The construction of wind farms—which should be regarded as far less weather-dependent than solar installations—has been practically blocked by legislation. Biomass and biogas sources are also not widely adopted, even though they are completely independent of weather conditions.

The article uses the analytical-synthetic method. Available data concerning both the theoretical dimension and the practice of functioning of the energy system in Poland were analysed.

It was found that Polish energy faces many challenges and problems to be solved. The undertaken actions, although costly, are necessary to achieve the goal of living in a pollution-free environment, without the effects of global warming, in a state that eliminates the risk of ‘energy poverty.’