Cleaner fuels, energy security should be key in Poland's strategy: IEA

The country's energy strategy, which is “likely to prioritise long-term energy security, placing a strong emphasis on reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and air pollution, increasing energy efficiency and decarbonising the transport system” will require “significant investments to reduce the share of carbon-intensive power plants and increase the share of low-carbon energy, including nuclear energy and renewables,” IEA said in a press release.

Poland looks at nuclear but remains reliant on coal

Poland is currently focusing investments on nuclear capacity to strengthen its energy independence, security of supply and reduce GHG emissions, IEA noted, as the country adopted its Polish Nuclear Power Programme in 2014 with a view to develop and deploy nuclear energy by the end of 2024.
This means it will need to develop “a skilled workforce and the mechanisms for financing the construction and operation of the new nuclear power plants as soon as possible.”

Nevertheless, according to the government coal will remain the cornerstone of the energy system of Poland for the long term. “The mining sector is a major source of employment and policies affecting the sector have a large social and regional impact.” In that respect, “the new energy strategy must determine the long-term role of coal in the economy.”

With coal combustion remaining the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions and local air pollution, replacement of old and inefficient coal-fired power plants with “the newest technology represents an economic challenge for the sector, but at the same time offers an opportunity to reduce GHG emissions, air pollution and the carbon footprint from power generation” IEA stressed.

Coal use in household heating, together with waste burning, is a major source of local air pollution and “the government must ensure that less-well-off households are provided with the means to switch to cleaner solutions, such as natural gas or district heating where available,” said Birol.

Furthermore, Poland’s energy efficiency policies have been strengthened by the adoption of measures such as the white certificate scheme, and have incentivised industry to increase energy savings, IEA underlined, adding however that “these measures represent a solid starting point, but the government needs to broaden the scheme while at the same time developing and implementing new measures targeted at the buildings sector.”

In the electricity sector, “Poland must step up investment in new generation and strengthen interconnections with neighbouring countries if the country is to satisfy future demand for electricity.” it said.