The Challenges of Poland’s Energy Transition

Sylwia Mrozowska,Krzysztof Tomaszewski,Jan A Wendt

doi:10.3390/en14238165

Sylwia Mrozowska, Krzysztof Tomaszewski + Show 1 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/en14238165

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Abstract

The ongoing climate changes necessitate an effective climate policy. The energy transition is now an important topic and problem, especially in Poland. (1) The undertaken analysis of the problem of energy transition is important for political, social and technological reasons. Political, because it shows the weakness of the implementation of Polish energy policy in regards to climate change. Social, because energy transition will bring about significant social changes in the largest industrial region of Poland. Technological, as the departure from fossil fuels requires the introduction of other sources of energy on a massive scale, for which Poland is not prepared. The aim of the study was to critically analyse the activities to date in the field of energy transition in Poland. The second goal of the analysis was an attempt to answer the question of whether the process of energy transition and achieving the goals set in the EU’s European Green Deal are possible at all until 2050. (2) To achieve the goals, the system method and the decision-making method were primarily used. These methods allowed for an examination of the main determinants of the Polish energy transformation. (3) The main results include the confirmation, contrary to the announcements of the Polish government, that despite the adoption in Poland of the strategy “Poland’s energy policy until 2040”, the effective implementation of the energy transition before 2050 is not only very difficult, but may even be impossible to implement in the assumed time. This is due to political, economic, social and technological conditions. Coal energy is outdated, expensive and ineffective. Due to natural conditions, wind energy is not able to meet the energy demand of the industry. The development of nuclear energy is only in the planning phase. (4) To sum up, in the next thirty years, Poland will not be able to achieve the assumed effects of the energy transition, which is in contradiction with the official declaration of the government.

Highlights

The ongoing climate changes necessitate an effective climate policy
Especially in the years 1970–1990, a number of negative phenomena occurred in the Polish energy sector, such as high energy intensity of the economy, much higher than in Western Europe; excessive dependence on carbon, with low consumption of hydrocarbon fuels; high environmental degradation, largely due to the energy sector; an improper system of fuel and energy prices [35]
The culture of coal energy is deeply rooted in the consciousness of Polish society

Summary

Introduction

The ongoing climate changes necessitate an effective climate policy. The energy transition is an important topic and problem, especially in Poland. (1) The undertaken analysis of the problem of energy transition is important for political, social and technological reasons. (1) The undertaken analysis of the problem of energy transition is important for political, social and technological reasons. Political, because it shows the weakness of the implementation of Polish energy policy in regards to climate change. 2040”, the effective implementation of the energy transition before 2050 is very difficult, but may even be impossible to implement in the assumed time This is due to political, economic, social and technological conditions. (4) To sum up, in the thirty years, Poland will not be able to achieve the assumed effects of the energy transition, which is in contradiction with the official declaration of the government. The transition towards a low-carbon economy and energy system entails extensive changes that require broad social and political support

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