War in Ukraine and the current situation on the energy market resulted in the need to redefine Polish energy policy and make it independent for years and decades to come. The inevitable green energy transition and its key objective — achieving climate neutrality by 2050 — also require fast and targeted decisions. Experts alert that we need to take action allowing Polish citizens to look into a stable and safe future today. Therefore, Poland must start to make serious investments in modern, zero-carbon technologies that optimise energy consumption. What measures and decisions are necessary to perform a wise energy transition? These questions are answered in the “Decalogue of the Polish Energy Transition” — recently published plan for the Polish path towards climate neutrality and independence from external fuel supplies. 

“Security” and “independence” are terms frequently used in the last weeks. War in Ukraine has exposed the fragility of energy sector based on fossil fuels — coal, gas and oil — imported primarily from Russia. With soaring energy prices and climate crisis, national economy faces a slowdown and decreased international competitiveness. In the current situation, energy transition in Poland seems inevitable and necessary. Even with the longest possible exploitation of coal deposits and units, we have to be ready with new RES capacity — dubbed “energy of freedom” after the Russian aggression on Ukraine — and nuclear power alike.

 “Today, energy security is our common objective. Therefore, we prepared the “Decalogue of the Polish Energy Transition” — a document that may constitute a guidebook to transition and provide recommendations for measures to be taken at the national, regional and local level. Rather than discussing single areas, the unique report presents energy transition as a whole, from systemic point of view. We provide a set of 10 simple rules, which will bring the desired effect only if applied together. Green transition must apply to all areas of our life and economy, not just selected aspects,” said Anna Kornecka, Director of Instytut Stowarzyszenie Program Czysta Polska. 

The measures proposed in the Decalogue apply to strategic management and planning as well as specific areas, such as RES and nuclear power or hydrogen technology development. The experts identified the necessary measures with respect to power grid upgrades or electrification of our economy.  The report builds the foundations of a green and innovative economy using all EU and national funds that could be obtained. It presents social aspects of energy transition and decarbonisation, including the objectives and opportunities. Furthermore, the document emphasizes the role of local governments by strengthening their energy independence and the importance of education and science in a process as difficult as energy transition. 

 “Step by step, we describe ten areas where we have identified the need for an immediate action in order to exploit all opportunities given by the strive of the European economy for climate neutrality and independence of economic growth from fossil fuels. The document has been developed in cooperation with experts from different circles, organisations, think tanks, who united their forces to propose the directions of energy transition of our country on the path towards zero-carbon. It presents a ready, coherent plan, and we all agree that it has to be implemented,” said Michał Niewiadomski, climate and energy feature reporter, founder of Klub Energetyczny.

Energy transition is justified not only by climate protection but is a project likely to become the technological revolution of the 21st century. It is to foster development of broadly construed green economy, including green transport and industry. Poland should participate in the transition on equal terms with other European countries and consolidate its energy security at the same time. 

 “The future lies in electrification of all sectors of the economy based on zero-carbon sources. High fossil fuel prices and the risk of interruption of supplies will streamline energy transition and development of new technologies — in transport, heating, industry. Energy security will have a new dimension. It will be based on stable and reliable supply through local, renewable sources,” said Joanna Maćkowiak-Pandera, President of Forum Energii.

Furthermore, after 24 February 2022 the world is no longer as before. Europe faces even more difficult challenges — becoming independent from Russian hydrocarbons and adjusting consumption plans for gas as a transitory fuel. 

 “Today, we are in a complex geopolitical and economic situation, and have to answer questions about the development of our country in the years and decades to come. Poland is a member of the European Union, which wants to become climate-neutral by 2050. We cannot fail to see the opportunity, yet we have to make some efforts to make the objective possible to achieve. Furthermore, the European Union allocates substantial funds to finance green investments. It is our job to use these funds wisely and not to lose this historic opportunity to have the cost of energy transition in Poland spread equally among all EU countries, rather than encumber only our citizens,” said Marcin Roszkowski, President of Instytut Jagielloński. 

Authors of the Decalogue indicate the areas and specific measures that need to be implemented as soon as possible to successfully pursue the vision of economically developed, ambitious, competitive and sustainable Poland. The document suggests where to seek new opportunities and which areas need particular support.  

“Implementation of the Decalogue will not be simple. However, abandoning the steps discussed in the document will jeopardize our energy security and limit our sovereignty, and push our companies that will not be able their carbon footprint to the margin of economic life. Moreover, we cannot forget about future generations — it is them we have to think when we build energy sector based on clean technologies, enabling living in a clean and healthy environment. The Decalogue presents such a vision. Today, there is not technology allowing us to build a 100% climate-friendly energy independence. However, we should seek development directions and investments that would result in the most effective creation of the national supply chain; where we will provide competence, components, services and jobs to many new sectors of the economy,” summarised Piotr Czopek, Regulatory Director, Polish Wind Energy Association.

“Decalogue of the Polish Energy Transition” includes: 

    1. A SOUND PLAN FOR ENERGY TRANSITION IN POLAND: The transition has to be carried out wisely. It must be an evolution, not revolution. The change should start in the energy sector and spread to the entire economy. We should analyse the benefits, but also seek potential threats.
    2. DEVELOPMENT OF RES AND NUCLEAR POWER: For many years development of renewable energy sources in Poland was motivated by the need to implement EU climate and energy policy. Next to wind, nuclear power is a source with the lowest lifetime CO2 emissions. Both nuclear power and RES should complement each other to jointly create carbon-free economy of the future. 
    3. GRID UPGRADE: The role of power grid is to provide services and enable performance of a contract between a customer and a producer — this crucial statement should demonstrate that all actions taken with respect to the power grid should be oriented on implementation of that fundamental function.
    4. ENERGY INDEPENDENCE OF LOCAL GOVERNMENTS: One of the biggest challenges of transition is the shift from a system based on large generation sources to a distributed structure, where local energy sources will play a key role in satisfying energy customers’ demand. 
    5. ELECTRIFICATION OF THE ECONOMY: Electrification of the economy on the basis of energy from renewable sources is one of the core methods to achieve climate neutrality. The definition of what we see as expensive will soon change — energy storage or green hydrogen will prove commonly affordable compared to expensive coal and gas. Renewable sources, in particular wind and sun, having zero fuel costs, will be the most desired investment, both among the community and financial institutions.
  • DEVELOPMENT OF HYDROGEN TECHNOLOGIES: In these difficult times we increasingly often ask ourselves: how Europe may quickly become independent from Russian fuels? The answer is well known: “hydrogen”. The gas may successfully replace fossil fuels in transport, energy or chemical industry. 
  • RESIGNATION FROM COAL, FOSTERING CARE FOR THE CLIMATE AND POPULATION: Coal is the main fossil fuel in Poland, combusted to produce 70% of electricity and more than 90% of heat. Decarbonisation means not only the need to build new generation capacity, but also to eliminate economic monocultures in areas where coal is currently mined and combusted. 
    1. REASONABLE INVESTMENTS AND DEVELOPMENT OF NEW TECHNOLOGIES: Green revolution is now widespread in Europe. Energy transition, zero-carbon, circular economy are not only slogans, but actual targets, whose implementation must be accompanied by substantial funding. 
    2. DEVELOPMENT OF A GREEN ECONOMY: Development of a green economy means not only reduction in emissions and energy intensity. One of inextricable elements of the changing Polish energy sector will be a long-lasting transformation of jobs, technologies and services as well as development of R&D competences. 
  • EDUCATION: Every substantial change, including energy transition, must gain social acceptance in order to succeed. No great social and economic reform will be fully possible without understanding and need to take action to foster the change. To make this happen, we need broad educational measures in schools, universities, and in public space. 

The entire “Decalogue of the Polish Energy Transition” may be downloaded HERE. (Polish version)