Renewable energy in Poland

The current share of energy from renewable energy sources (RES) in Poland is around 7%. The 2001/77/EC Directive obliges Poland to increase this level to 7,5% by 2010 and to 15% by 2020. Energy vendors have to prove certain percentage of electricity from RES in the total volume they sell (8,7% in 2009, 10,4% during the years 2010-2011, 10,9% in 2012, 11,4% in 2014, 11,9% in 2015 and 12,4% in 2016). Moreover producers of energy from RES have also priority access to a transmission network and a reduced fee for grid connection. The necessity to reduce CO2 emission and improve energy efficiency is an additional  challenge Poland will shortly face. The abovementioned environmental targets combined with general conditions for doing business make Poland a healthy and a very attractive destination for investments in renewable energy.

The principal and the oldest source of clean energy in Poland is hydro energy. Out of total hydro energy the larger portion comes from large-scale hydro energy installations, however it is expected that the future of Polish hydro-power engineering will be determined by the development of small power stations. Biomass and wind are believed to be the most promising renewable energy resources to be developed in Poland. Biomass is considered to be the main source of renewable energy in Poland used for electricity and heat production. Moreover the Polish government has announced an ambitious program of constructing 2,500 biogas plants in Poland by 2020. Poland also has some of the best documented wind resources in Central and Eastern Europe hence the boom in wind sector is continuing. Solar and biofuel sectors are also attracting more and more foreign investors appreciating this huge potential.

Potential and power installed (according to data provided by PIGEO, URE and GUS):

Hydropower:

- Potential of 18 PJ (5 TW/year) utilized in 41%
- Power installed (21.09.2009) 944, 020 MW

Biomass:

- Potential of 600 PJ (solid biomass 166 PJ, biogas 123 PJ, wood 24 PJ, energy crops 287 PJ)
- Power installed (21.09.2009) 233,790 MW – installations using biomass; 69,205 MW – installations using biogas

Wind:

- Potential of 445 PJ (onshore: 337, offshore: 67)
- Power installed (21.09.2009) 582,597 MW

Solar energy:

- Potential of 83 PJ (used in 0,2%)

Waste:

- Generation of 320 kg communal waste per capita annually
- 98% of municipal waste in Poland is stored in landfills without any treatment. By 2020 this percentage must be reduced to 35%

Biofules:

- 2 Mn tones of rapeseed harvest, 8 - 9 Mn tones of wheat harvest, 12 Mn tones of white beet harvest annually
- Network of 1000 distilleries
- Obligatory share growth of biocomponents in liquid fuels from 4,6% in 2009 to 7,10% in 2013

Renewable Energy on the Map of Poland

- Population of 38 Mn and a booming economy determine rising demand for clean technologies and energy
- Poland is aiming at reduction of dependence on import of oil and gas as well as coal share in domestic energy production
- Poland set up ambitious targets for 2020 in line with EU regulations: 15% share of energy from RES compared to 7% currently; obligatory reduction of biodegradable waste deposited on landfills to 35%, construction of biogas plants in each Polish commune
- Poland has still more than 80% of untapped potential in renewable energy production
- Poland has favorable wind conditions at the Baltic seashore
- Poland has large potential for biomass, biogas and biofules due to agricultural traditions and huge arable area
- Poland can supply 12% of European biomass energy capacity
- Poland offers investment incentives for renewable energy producers

source: PAIiIZ