Electricity in Poland in 2023/2024

As of now, Poland's electricity consumption is heavily reliant on fossil fuels, with more than two-thirds (68.41%) of its electricity generated from these sources. Coal alone accounts for about 58%, which underlines the country's dependence on this fossil fuel. Low-carbon energy forms a significant portion but still less than a third (28.57%) of the overall electricity generation. Within this array, wind power contributes almost 15% and solar approximately 10%, making them significant players in Poland’s clean energy landscape. Additionally, net imports (2.23%), hydropower (2.13%), biofuels (1.26%), and small amounts of oil (1.58%) and gas (8.64%) complement the nation's energy mix.

Suggestions

To increase low-carbon electricity generation, Poland can capitalize on its existing success with wind and solar power by expanding these sectors further. Investing in additional wind farms and solar panels will bolster the production of clean energy, potentially reducing reliance on coal. Learning from successful examples worldwide, Poland could draw inspiration from countries like Denmark, which generates 61% of its electricity from wind, or Ireland with 34%. Regarding nuclear energy, Poland can look to neighboring countries such as Slovakia, which generates 60% of its electricity from nuclear sources, and Czechia (40%). These countries exemplify how integrating nuclear energy alongside wind and solar can create a robust, low-carbon electricity system.

History

Historically, Poland has seen varied growth in low-carbon electricity production. The early 2010s marked steady growth in wind energy, with consistent annual increases between 1.3 and 3.2 TWh from 2011 to 2017. However, 2018 saw a decline of 2.1 TWh in wind generation before recovering with increases in subsequent years, including a significant rise of 3.5 TWh in 2022. Solar power has also seen substantial growth, particularly since 2020, with incremental increases of 1.2 to 4.6 TWh annually. Despite these advances, biofuels experienced a notable decline by 6.1 TWh in 2023/2024, highlighting that diversification within clean energy investments, particularly in nuclear technology, wind, and solar, is essential to Poland’s energy strategy moving forward.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade

Maximum Imports

Data Sources