In Poland, in 2023, renewable energy provided 20.6% of the country's needs, taking second place after coal generation (70.7%).
A study by the Polish think tank Forum Energii showed that, despite the increase of green capacities, the modernization of the country's energy sector is taking place very slowly, EURACTIV reports.
It is noted that in 2022, renewable energy sources produced 36.8 TWh of electricity, which is 20% more than in 2021. Production from photovoltaic plants increased by 4 TWh, i.e. by 102%, and from onshore wind power plants - by 3 TWh (by 19%).
The article emphasized that the achievable capacity of renewable energy in Poland, i.e. if all producers were in the network together, increased to 38.3%, exceeding the achievable capacity of hard coal. However, such power plants cannot operate simultaneously, as their operation depends on weather conditions.
Analysts said the continued dominance of coal-fired generation means Poland still has one of the most carbon-intensive power systems in Europe. When emissions from household fuel burning are added, the electricity and heat sector is responsible for almost half of the country's emissions.
It is noted that Poland has reduced its emissions by 15.7% since 1990, although this indicator in the EU reaches 29%. In addition, as in other EU countries, emissions in Poland also increased in 2022 by 0.3% compared to 2021.
Analysts added that the country also increased spending on crude oil, fossil gas and coal imports in 2022. They reached a record €42.6 billion, which is almost twice as much as in 2021.
Analysts called for reducing fossil fuel use by implementing energy efficiency measures and scaling up renewable capacity.
Earleir, EcoPolitic wrote, that the CEO of the Polish power grid operator PSE Tomasz Sikorski said that the country needs to invest approximately 500 billion zlotys ($116.11 billion) in transmission and distribution networks.
As EcoPolitic previously reported, Poland's Minister of State Property Jacek Sasin said that the country is forced to postpone the closure of coal mines, but their final date of operation - 2049 - will remain unchanged. The shutdown will begin after the first nuclear power plant starts up.
