Poland’s energy system to be improved? Minister for the Environment explains
Poland's electricity is the dirtiest and most expensive in Europe. Will the Ministry of the Environment and Climate succeed in helping the country catch up with the rest of Europe and stop lagging in renewable energy sources (RES) and nuclear energy?
We have previously reported that Poland's coal-based power industry is not only the dirtiest in Europe but also the most expensive. Due to the lack of progress in renewable energy sources (RES) and nuclear energy under previous governments, we are all overpaying for electricity while contributing to environmental degradation. Continuously updated data on greenhouse gas emissions can be tracked at app.electricitymaps.com, where Poland consistently appears as a brown spot on the map.
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Will Polish energy become cheaper and cleaner?
Recent statements by the Minister for the Environment and Climate, Paulina Hennig-Kloska, offer hope for change. In an interview with Radio Zet on 11 July, the minister announced plans to accelerate and facilitate investment in renewable energy sources (RES). She stated, "If we consider our needs, the country's electricity demand will only increase. From this perspective, we need to accelerate significantly, focusing on establishing new sources, specifically renewable ones."
Minister announces RES and nuclear energy priorities
Minister Hennig-Kloska also announced forthcoming wind power legislation to boost investment in the sector. She mentioned on Radio Zet, "We submitted a draft some time ago. It was under inter-ministerial review for a while and will now proceed to public consultation." She anticipates a vote on the draft after the summer holidays. According to her, the bill "will facilitate investment in biogas plants and streamline the investment processes in renewable energy sources. It encompasses more than altering the distance of wind turbines from residential areas. The agreed distance is set at 500 metres."
Additionally, the minister officially announced on X the launch of the nuclear power plant in Choczewo in 2035, with full capacity expected in 2036. While nuclear power is controversial due to safety concerns and the storage of reactor waste, Poland cannot afford to debate its necessity, given its current neglect of RES. The country does not have the luxury of waiting for RES to advance sufficiently to replace the increasingly expensive and environmentally harmful coal.
