Evaluation of the Program Subsidizing Prosumer Photovoltaic Sources in Poland

Iwona Zdonek,Anna Mularczyk,Marian Turek,Stanisław Tokarski

doi:10.3390/en15030846

Iwona Zdonek, Anna Mularczyk + Show 2 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/en15030846

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Abstract

This article attempts to evaluate the My Electricity program concerning increasing renewable energy production in photovoltaic (PV) prosumer sources (PV micro-installations) in Poland. The assessment is made from the perspective of beneficiaries, business, and local community. One may also find an answer to the question of how this program should be modified so that it continues to support the development of PV systems in Poland. Moreover, how Poles assess the PV technology, in terms of the safety of its users and its impact on the environment, is studied. For this purpose, there was exploratory, qualitative, and quantitative research conducted. Twelve case studies were used as well as online questionnaires conducted on prosumers who used the My Electricity program to install PV micro-installations (57 respondents). By means of interviews, there was a confrontation of their point of view with the opinions of seven skeptics of such installations. Moreover, five experts from the energy industry and politicians involved in the transformation of the energy system were interviewed in order to balance the enthusiastic opinions of prosumers and the skeptical views of objectors to home PV systems. The results of our research indicate that the program is rated very well by enthusiasts of PV systems, although they emphasize the high investment costs and the lack of solutions supporting energy storage. Experts point out that the power grid in Poland is not prepared for such an immediate increase in prosumer PV systems, and they suggest more care in solving this problem.

Highlights

On 2 February 2021, the Council of Ministers approved the document entitled “Polityka energetyczna Polski do 2040 r.” (“Energy Policy of Poland until 2040”: PEP2040).In a notice posted on the government website [1], it was stated that this document is to constitute “a clear vision of Poland’s energy transformation strategy”
RQ1: What is the assessment of the effectiveness of the My Electricity program in terms of increasing the production of renewable energy in prosumer sources?
The benefits of home PV systems indicated by the respondents can be divided into four categories: economic, environmental, energy security, and others (Table 2)

Summary

Introduction

On 2 February 2021, the Council of Ministers approved the document entitled “Polityka energetyczna Polski do 2040 r.” (“Energy Policy of Poland until 2040”: PEP2040).In a notice posted on the government website [1], it was stated that this document is to constitute “a clear vision of Poland’s energy transformation strategy”. On 2 February 2021, the Council of Ministers approved the document entitled “Polityka energetyczna Polski do 2040 r.” (“Energy Policy of Poland until 2040”: PEP2040). Renewable energy sources (RES) are to play an increasingly important role in the production of electricity; their level in the national structure should be at least 32% in 2030, which is primarily to be achieved through the development of PV systems and offshore wind farms. The goal of one of the pillars of PEP2040, entitled “Zeroemisyjny system energetyczny” (“Zero emission energy system”), is to expand the electricity generation and grid infrastructure. In Poland, where hard coal is still widely used as a fuel, all activities aimed at eliminating the phenomenon of the so-called low emissions, primarily responsible for high air pollution, play a unique role.

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