Currently, more than half of electricity in Poland is generated from fossil fuels, with coal alone contributing just over half of the total electricity consumption. However, close to a third of Poland's electricity comes from low-carbon sources, which include wind, solar, hydropower, and biofuels. During the past year, from August 2024 to July 2025, wind power contributed a modest yet significant portion at around 14%, while solar energy accounted for nearly 12%. Although biofuels and hydropower make up small fractions of the total, their contributions still help reduce reliance on high-emission fossil energy. The energy mix shows a positive, yet inadequate, shift towards cleaner energy sources, highlighting the need for further growth in low-carbon electricity.
Is Electricity Growing in Poland?
Despite the significance of transitioning towards clean energy, Poland's electricity consumption has seen a reduction rather than growth. The latest electricity consumption per person in 2025 is up to 4,168 kWh, which is a noticeable decrease of 555 kWh compared to the record set in 2021. This stagnation raises concerns as clean electricity generation also saw a minor decline, with the current figure falling 61 kWh short of the 2024 record. This decline in both total and clean electricity generation is troubling, as Poland needs to boost capacity, particularly in low-carbon electricity, to meet the growing demand and support electrification.
Suggestions
To increase low-carbon electricity generation, Poland can expand the already substantial generation capabilities of solar and wind energy. Given the success of other countries relying heavily on low-carbon sources, Poland can learn valuable lessons to improve its energy infrastructure. For instance, Denmark and Iowa have achieved impressive results from wind energy, reaching 57% and 62%, respectively. Similarly, South Dakota, with 60% wind electricity generation, presents a solid case study on maximizing wind potential. Additionally, Poland can look towards France and Slovakia for their heavy reliance on nuclear power, achieving outstanding shares of 69% and 64%. By investing in and expanding wind, solar, and nuclear energy, Poland can reduce its dependency on coal and actively combat climate change and air pollution.
History
Historically, the evolution of Poland's low-carbon electricity generation has seen varying trends. Throughout the 2010s, wind energy showed significant growth with noticeable increases in 2012, 2014, and 2015, and again from 2016 to 2017. Solar energy experienced rapid expansion in the early 2020s, with noteworthy growth in 2021 and a major jump in 2022 and 2023. However, 2025 saw an unexpected downturn in wind power, though solar continued to increase, demonstrating Poland's potential for future solar capacity. Though biofuels declined in recent years, the consistent increase in solar and wind indicates that Poland has laid a promising foundation for expanding its clean energy portfolio, underscoring the need to consistently push for further clean energy transitions.
Electrification
We estimate the degree of electrification by comparing electricity and total energy emissions. More about methodology.