In response to Russian aggression, the Polish government urgently changed Poland’s energy policy until 2040, paying more attention to energy independence and accelerating the development of renewable energy sources (RES). Poland will stop purchases of Russian coal in May, and by the end of the year, it will cease importing oil and gas from Russia. 

According to the data compiled by Forum of Energy, about 55% of imported gas, 66% of imported crude oil and approximately 75% of imported coal are purchased from Russia. For over the past 20 years Poland has spent around PLN 900 billion on those energy resources. 

Experts from the Forum of Energy claim that Poland has no influence on forming global gas, oil and coal prices, but may become independent from external supplies of fossil fuels relying on renewable sources, which are “local and free”. 

The total installed capacity of all electricity sources in Poland in January 2022 was 56.4 GW, of which 17.4 GW was renewable energy sources (30.8%). They grew by 37%, compared to January 2021. 

Currently, photovoltaic systems dominate in the structure of installed RES capacity in Poland. In January 2022, the installed capacity of solar installations amounted to over 8 GW, which is 47% of all the capacity of renewable energy sources. Wind energy takes second place with 7.1 GW of installed capacity, i.e. 41% of RES capacity. 

However, the analysts from the Polish Economic Institute are pointing out that the potential of photovoltaic systems in Poland is not fully used, especially in the southern regions. It is true that Poland has nearly 2 times less insolation than the countries in southern Europe, but Germany, a country with the conditions most similar to Poland, at the end of 2020 had more than 8 times larger share of solar energy in its production of electricity. 

The potential of biogas in Poland is also untapped. Germany, the leader of the European Union produces 33 times more of this fuel than Poland. Scientists from the University of Life Sciences in Poznań indicate a potential amount of 31 TWh using mainly substrates from agricultural waste (including 58% biomethane), which would constitute 18% of current electricity production in Poland. 

Adrian Andrzejewski order