Close Menu
economyuae.comeconomyuae.com
    What's Hot

    I have $6.5 million in retirement savings and support my working son. Should we move to a state with no income tax?

    July 4, 2025

    Trump to step up tariff pressure with letters to trade partners on new rates

    July 4, 2025

    Sleeping beauty bitcoin wallets wake up after 14 years to the tune of $2 billion

    July 4, 2025
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
    economyuae.comeconomyuae.com
    Subscribe
    • Home
    • MARKET
    • STARTUPS
    • BUSINESS
    • ECONOMY
    • INTERVIEWS
    • MAGAZINE
    economyuae.comeconomyuae.com
    Home » Poland’s clean energy usage overtakes coal for first time
    Company 

    Poland’s clean energy usage overtakes coal for first time

    Arabian Media staffBy Arabian Media staffJuly 3, 2025No Comments4 Mins Read
    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Telegram Pinterest Tumblr Reddit WhatsApp Email
    Share
    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email


    Stay informed with free updates

    Simply sign up to the Renewable energy myFT Digest — delivered directly to your inbox.

    Poland generated more electricity from renewables than coal for the first time in June, marking a key moment in the country’s efforts to cut its reliance on the most polluting fossil fuel.

    The shift comes as Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s government accelerates efforts to diversify energy production in Poland, which despite recent progress remains a major producer of coal and the most coal-dependent country in the EU, with about 60 per cent of its electricity coming from the fossil fuel in 2024. 

    Last month renewable energy sources accounted for 44.1 per cent of Poland’s electricity mix, narrowly surpassing coal, which fell to 43.7 per cent, according to a study to be published next Monday by Forum Energii, a Warsaw-based energy think-tank, using data from Poland’s grid operator. Natural gas made up the remainder.

    The latest data represents “a big change for Poland”, said Tobiasz Adamczewski, vice-president of Forum Energii, and could trigger “a real snowball effect” if renewables continue to surpass production of coal-fired power plants, many of which are surviving only through government subsidies.

    It was also the first time that coal contributed less than half of total electricity output over a full quarter, dropping to 46.2 per cent in the second quarter from 56.4 per cent in the same period a year earlier.

    Line chart showing Renewable energy accounted for 44% of Poland's electricity in June

    The Tusk administration is backing a range of projects, including offshore wind farms and the country’s first nuclear power plant, which will be built by US groups Westinghouse and Bechtel and is scheduled to begin operations in 2036.

    This week the prime minister also approved a 10.8bn zlotys ($3bn) investment to build 5,000km of high-voltage transmission lines over the next decade. The funding will be drawn from EU pandemic recovery funds, released after Tusk’s pro-EU coalition took power in late 2023, ending eight years of rule by the nationalist Law and Justice (PiS) party. Brussels had frozen Poland’s EU funds following a feud with PiS over the rule of law.

    Most of Poland’s renewables momentum stems from wind and solar power. The country now boasts 23 gigawatts of installed solar capacity — more than three times the 2030 target set in 2021 — largely thanks to a solar energy push from the former PiS government. This included expanding a subsidy programme for households to install rooftop panels in response to the energy crisis following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

    However, the solar sector’s growth has also exposed bottlenecks in Poland’s outdated grid and energy storage infrastructure, to the benefit of existing coal plants, according to environmental campaigners.

    “This past quarter was a real breakthrough for renewables,” said Marek Józefiak, a spokesperson for Greenpeace Poland. “But we are wasting record amounts of renewable energy because our energy system cannot absorb it.

    “We’re finally on the right path, but progress could have been faster if our politicians had planned things better and ended policies designed mostly to appease our coal trade unions.”

    While several offshore wind farms are scheduled to be constructed along Poland’s Baltic coast, onshore wind energy continues to face political resistance and regulatory uncertainty.

    In June, the lower house of the Polish parliament, or Sejm, passed legislation to ease restrictions on the proximity of wind farms to residential areas, reversing a PiS-era policy.

    However, President Andrzej Duda, an ally of PiS, criticised the government for tying its wind reform to an extension of a household electricity price cap, accusing Tusk of pressuring him to sign a fast-tracked bill to approve it.

    Duda’s successor Karol Nawrocki, who backed opponents of onshore wind developments during his election campaign, is expected to maintain a sceptical stance on wind farms when he takes office next month.

    Climate Capital

    Where climate change meets business, markets and politics. Explore the FT’s coverage here.

    Are you curious about the FT’s environmental sustainability commitments? Find out more about our science-based targets here



    Source link

    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Telegram Email
    Previous ArticleECB officials question whether euro has strengthened too much
    Next Article China’s central bank seeks European lenders’ advice on low interest rates
    Arabian Media staff
    • Website

    Related Posts

    Collapsed Prax Group owes up to £250mn in taxes after insolvency

    July 4, 2025

    The wasted potential of ‘blended finance’

    July 4, 2025

    UBS, Citi and other banks hit by $21.5mn penalty over Singapore money-laundering case

    July 4, 2025
    Add A Comment
    Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

    Top Posts

    10 Trends From Year 2020 That Predict Business Apps Popularity

    January 20, 2021

    Shipping Lines Continue to Increase Fees, Firms Face More Difficulties

    January 15, 2021

    Qatar Airways Helps Bring Tens of Thousands of Seafarers

    January 15, 2021

    Subscribe to Updates

    Your weekly snapshot of business, innovation, and market moves in the Arab world.

    Advertisement

    Economy UAE is your window into the pulse of the Arab world’s economy — where business meets culture, and ambition drives innovation.

    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram Pinterest YouTube
    Top Insights

    Top UK Stocks to Watch: Capita Shares Rise as it Unveils

    January 15, 2021
    8.5

    Digital Euro Might Suck Away 8% of Banks’ Deposits

    January 12, 2021

    Oil Gains on OPEC Outlook That U.S. Growth Will Slow

    January 11, 2021
    Get Informed

    Subscribe to Updates

    Your weekly snapshot of business, innovation, and market moves in the Arab world.

    @2025 copyright by Arabian Media Group
    • Home
    • Markets
    • Stocks
    • Funds
    • Buy Now

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.