Poland, historically the most coal-dependent country in the European Union, is making strides toward energy transition, but a recent survey by the Balkan Investigative Reporting Network (BIRN) reveals that private companies are still heavily invested in natural gas, with few taking concrete steps to reduce their reliance on the fossil fuel.
Natural gas has long been seen by the Polish government as a key “transition fuel” to help reduce the country’s dependence on coal. Prime Minister Donald Tusk emphasized the importance of renewables at the 2024 Sopot European Forum of New Ideas, acknowledging Poland’s energy costs as among the highest in Europe due to its heavy reliance on coal. However, the government’s push for gas-fired power plants has sparked debate, with environmentalists warning that gas could prove just as problematic for reducing emissions and lowering energy prices as coal.
Poland’s “Polish Climate and Energy Plan” projects that gas will continue to play a central role in energy production until at least 2030, with new gas plants expected to stabilize the grid as renewables come online. Yet, as climate change concerns intensify, environmental groups, such as Greenpeace Poland, argue that further investment in gas infrastructure contradicts efforts to reduce emissions and foster a clean energy transition.
Despite this, Poland’s energy transition is not without its complexities. Gas is being positioned as a bridge between coal and renewables. “Natural gas accounts for a significant part of the country’s primary energy needs, and the demand for this fuel is not likely to decrease until 2030,” the Polish government asserts in its climate plan.
However, private companies are starting to feel pressure to adopt cleaner energy practices, albeit slowly. BIRN’s survey of over 100 of Poland’s largest private companies, which include some of the country’s wealthiest individuals, found limited action on reducing gas use. The response rate to BIRN’s questions about climate action was low, indicating a lack of transparency in energy consumption data among the companies.
One notable example is ZE PAK, a major player in Poland’s energy sector, which has significantly reduced its coal operations and is moving toward gas and renewables. The company is constructing a new gas-steam unit at Adamow, expected to generate 600 megawatts (MW) by 2026. Although ZE PAK continues to view gas as a transition fuel, it is also exploring the possibility of selling the plant, suggesting that the market’s long-term value of such projects remains uncertain.
Similarly, Cyfrowy Polsat, the media giant, reported a reduction in its gas consumption between 2022 and 2023. The company, however, is also focusing on increasing its clean energy capacity, aiming to produce 2 terawatt-hours (TWh) of green energy annually by 2026.
Qemetica, a chemical company, has committed to becoming carbon neutral by 2040 and plans to phase out coal by 2033. In the meantime, the company is reducing its gas consumption, with a 19% decrease in 2023 compared to 2020.
Despite these steps, many large companies, including Synthos, another key player in Poland’s chemical sector, continue to treat gas as a temporary solution while setting longer-term goals to shift to renewable energy. Synthos aims to become climate neutral by 2050 and is exploring nuclear energy in partnership with state-owned Orlen.
Experts argue that while the Polish government sees new gas units as essential for energy security, this approach may not make economic sense. Maciej Stanczuk, an energy transformation expert, believes that the guaranteed contracts for new gas plants, expected to operate at low capacity, will lead to high energy prices for consumers. Diana Maciaga from the Polish Green Network added that high energy costs in Poland are driven not only by coal but also by gas, which is currently the benchmark for energy pricing in Europe.
As Poland continues to navigate its energy transition, the push for clean energy solutions will need to accelerate. Maciaga suggests that energy storage and clean flexibility solutions should be prioritized over gas investments, as the shift toward a renewables-dominated energy system is increasingly seen as the way forward.
In conclusion, while some Polish companies are taking steps toward reducing their gas dependence, the country’s broader energy transition remains deeply intertwined with the continued use of natural gas. Whether this “transition fuel” will be enough to meet Poland’s climate goals or whether more immediate investments in renewables and energy storage will be necessary remains an ongoing debate.
Related Topics:
