The Energy Policy of Poland until 2040 takes into account changes in the energy mix, as well as the need to ensure: energy security, fair transformation, recovery after the COVID pandemic, stable labor market, sustainable development of the economy and strengthening its competitiveness with optimum use of Poland’s own energy resources.

The EPP2040 is consistent with Poland’s National Energy and Climate Plan for the years 2021-2030 (NECP, submitted to EC in December 2019), however, it also contains new goals, in particular regarding the limitation of coal use in residential sector and aimed at improvement of air quality.

Implementation of policies and measures included in the EPP2040 and the polish NECP will put PL on the low emission path in the long term and enable achieving climate neutrality  according to national possibilities.

The energy transition will be based on 3 pillars: I. just transformation, II. zero-emission energy system, III. good air quality.

Poland is determined to reduce emissions and modernize its economy in a sustainable manner. However, difficult starting point and challenging domestic conditions (structure of energy mix) makes a huge transitional effort that requires significant investment and appropriate time.

The EPP2040 responds to the challenge of ensuring the pace of decarbonization in a rational and responsible manner, that will not lead to excessive burdens in household budgets, aggravation of energy poverty, weakening the regional or national economy and industrial degradation.

In decarbonizing the Polish energy mix, we want to take advantage of the opportunities arising from diversified sources, including renewable energy, nuclear energy and transitional role of natural gas.

We are facing a huge transition, which in the next 20 years will result in almost new electricity system, transformation of heat and transport sectors. By 2040, large amount of coal-fired capacity will be withdrawn from the national energy system. Renewable energy is due to play a key role in modernizing our energy system.

It is expected that the total installed capacity in RES electricity generation units will amount to approximately 23-25 GW in 2030, resulting in a doubling of the installed RES capacity compared to 2020. We see huge opportunities in off-shore wind development. The installed capacity in Poland’s projects may reach 5,9 GW in 2030 r. and approx. 11 GW in 2040. The condition for increasing the share of renewable energy sources is to guarantee flexible reserve capacity, development of network infrastructure and energy storage.

We also support the development of renewable energy sources at the local level, especially in terms of prosumer, increasing society's participation in the transformation and allowing it to take advantage as much as possible from the generated benefits. We are currently observing unprecedented dynamics in the development of renewable energy micro-installations and the activation of energy consumers and we want to continue this beneficial trend in the future.

Taking into account the strategic direction for construction of approx. 6-9 GW in nuclear generating units, zero-emission sources will account for half of the installed capacity in 2040.

Furthermore, the energy transformation will lead to a reconstruction of the Polish heating sector through the use of renewable energy sources, gas sources, high-efficiency cogeneration, and in individual heating – abandoning the use of coal by 2040.

Deep reduction of GHG emissions and pollutants will also be possible in transport through the development of electromobility, hydrogen-mobility and zero-emission public transport.

We estimate that the investment needs for the implementation of EPP2040’s transformation goals in the entire fuel and energy sector will amount to nearly EUR 200 billion.

Dedicated national and EU funds will provide enormous support in the implementation of the energy and climate transformation, taking special care of the coal regions. These measures will act as a financial leverage, creating a multiplier effect through the involvement of private funds.

---