How is the structure of electricity production in Poland changing? What emissions are involved? How are raw material prices evolving? Here is a summary of the most important data from the electricity industry. Updated monthly.

The Polish industrial sector holds a well-established position within the European Union. As one of the largest industrial bases in Europe, it plays a crucial – albeit often upstream – role in the continent’s manufacturing value chain. However, this stable standing may face significant challenges in the near future, driven by rising fossil fuel energy costs and the substantial carbon footprint associated with industrial production. While the reduction of industrial emissions has become a central element in the broader European discourse on competitiveness, the topic remains conspicuously absent from discussions in Poland.

While industrial emissions reduction is a key focus in Europe’s competitiveness discussions, it is notably absent from Poland’s. This is significant given that industry accounts for 23% of Poland’s GDP, employs one in five workers, and generates a quarter of the country’s emissions and energy consumption. Forum Energii’s reports provide essential insights into Poland’s industrial landscape and available decarbonisation technologies.   

The capacity market is a system of public support to maintain dispatchable capacity in the Polish electricity system. It was introduced in 2018, with the approval of the European Commission, because coal-fired power plants were no longer making money for themselves. It could have initiated the creation of new dispatchable and flexible capacity, but after eight auctions so far, it is mainly old coal units that are benefiting. Now the capacity mechanism needs to be redesigned to give an impetus to new, flexible investments replacing coal. We present our take on how to organise a new capacity market in Poland. 

Polish coal regions are the largest beneficiary of the EU's Just Transition Fund. This is a new instrument of the Cohesion Policy, supporting the achievement of the EU's energy and climate goals between 2021 and 2027. However, the future of the Fund in the next EU budgetary perspective is uncertain. Its continuation should be one of the priorities for the Polish government, and the upcoming Polish presidency is a perfect time to discuss it with the European partners. In the meantime, while there are many ministries in Poland responsible for energy sector, there is virtually no one responsible for a just transition. What is there to lose?

From 1 January 2025, Poland will assume the presidency of the Council of the European Union and will have the opportunity to influence the direction and shape of EU policies for the next six months. This is an important moment in the history of the EU, geopolitical tensions are rising and expectations of Poland are high. Which areas in the field of energy and climate should become priorities during the Polish presidency? The keys for selecting the priorities are an analysis of where Poland has strong arguments supported by experience and determining what is likely to gain attention across the EU.

Compared to the energy system’s resources available before the Russian invasion, Ukraine now has only a quarter of its production capacity. Insufficient energy supplies mean that this winter many parts of Ukraine may be deprived of not only electricity but also heat and running water for significant portions of the day. Russia has consistently targeted and destroyed Ukrainian energy infrastructure to try to paralyse the economy and break the society’s will to defend against the Russian aggression and force the Kyiv authorities to capitulate to Russia on its terms. This report analyses the current state of the Ukrainian energy system and proposes solutions to reduce the risk of a humanitarian disaster in the country.

As the current European Commission's term ends, the incoming Commission will have to set new priorities in the EU energy and climate policy. Significant changes are anticipated in the energy and industry sectors, driven by the Fit for 55 package implementation, aiming to reduce emissions by 2030 and significantly deploy RES. This transition is essential for enhancing EU energy independence, reducing fuel import costs, and improving environmental quality. However, challenges remain due to disparities in wealth and institutional weaknesses, particularly in Central Europe.

Poland’s energy transition is progressing, and 2023 was a year of real records. Although coal remains the main source of electricity production, its share in the mix fell to an all-time low of 60.5%, down 10 p.p. from a year earlier. Production from RES reached 27% for the first time. At the same time, energy production from natural gas increased, by more than 40%. This is a result of falling fuel prices and the flexibility of gas generation. Wholesale energy prices in Poland compared to other EU countries remain very high, and the economy’s dependence on imported fossil fuels is growing rapidly. In the latest, seventh edition of the “Energy Transition in Poland” report, Forum Energii presents the state of transition play and a broader look at the overall process.

Wind power is playing an increasingly important role in Poland's electricity system. Onshore wind farms are expected to become the second source in the electricity production mix this year, overtaking lignite. And as early as 2026, the first terawatt-hours from offshore wind turbines in Poland's Baltic region will be added to the Polish mix. In a new report by Forum Energii, we outline the state of the game: whether offshore will be launched on time, how to improve processes so that investments are made without delays, and how to realize the real potential of offshore wind energy on the Polish coast.