What will be the result if Poland keeps its energy mix based on coal, introduces nuclear power or promotes renewables? Forum Energii analysed four different scenarios for the development of the Polish energy sector over the next 30 years. Report presents the economic, social and environmental implications of their imple­mentation. 

The Polish energy sector is entering a new phase of transformation. Planned integration of industry into the the support for energy security offers a chance to reduce by at least 1200 MW peak demand for electricity in Poland during periods of critical load od Polish Power System. this is what results from the analysis of the national potential of DSR services prepared by Forum Energii.

Forum Energii examined how the integration of the energy market, one of the priorities of the European Union, will affect wholesale electricity prices in Poland. Depending on the option to integrate markets (with which country the merger takes place and what is its capacity), the wholesale price of electricity in Poland may fall by up to 5%, i.e. by about PLN 8 per MWh.

Ordinary Kowalski can improve the security of the energy system and at the same time save money. It is enough to change the energy tariffs and provide up-to-date information on how much electricity we use. In winter, the power system can be offloaded by 200MW. The annual costs of households could fall by as much as 160 PLN.

A stable and reliable supply of energy is the foundation of national energy security, yet it should not burden end users with excessive costs. On the one hand, it is important to keep electricity prices low, as they are the driving force behind economic development and provide opportunities for industrial development. On the other hand, wholesale energy prices should be sufficient to maintain the generating fleet. Since wholesale electricity prices fell to the lowest level in years, concerns have arisen over ensuring an adequate level of capacity and securing stable power system operations in Poland.

Revenues from auctioning of the national pool of ETS allowances may become the major source of financing for low-emission modernization of energy sector in the coming decade (2021-2030).

Megatrends are major and permanent changes of social, economic, technological or political nature that affect societies, governments, and economies of particular countries. They form slowly but when accelerated, they are irreversible. Together with experts, we have identified the most important megatrends in the European energy sector that are affecting Poland. 

Both the European power sector at large and the Polish power sector in particular find themselves at a pivotal moment. Power systems are in transition, driven by commitments to continuing emissions reductions, growing penetration of renewables, and the need to provide affordable and reliable power. 

On October 24, 2014, the European Council established the Modernization Fund (MF) for years 2021–2030 supplied with revenue from the sale of 2% of the total pool of CO2 emission allowances. The instrument is to support the modernization of power system and the improvement of energy efficiency in EU Member States, where GDP per capita in 2013 was lower than 60% of EU average (in nominal terms). 

In 2014, the UK government introduced legal provisions for a capacity market in Great Britain. Many countries – including Poland – have since then followed the developments on the island. FAE describes the power market in Great Britain as well as measures to raise its security of supply. It also compares the volume of Great Britain’s capacity reserve with that of Poland. The goal of the project was to analyse the results of the capacity auction in Great Britain in December 2014 and to draw possible lessons for Poland in view of the special situation of the Polish power sector.