Poland’s Energy Milestone: Renewables Outshine Coal for the First Time

Poland’s Energy Shift: Rising Emissions Amid Declining Coal Use

Key Developments

• Coal consumption is on the decline, reflecting a shift away from traditional fuels.
• In contrast, oil and gas usage has increased, indicating a pivot toward liquid and gaseous energy sources.
• These changes have resulted in Poland maintaining its position as the world’s fourth-highest emitting economy.

Poland’s Energy Milestone: Renewables Top Coal for the First Time

In a historic shift for Poland’s power sector, renewable sources accounted for 44.1% of the country’s electricity generation in June 2025, eclipsing coal and lignite at 43.7%. This marks the first instance where clean energy surpassed fossil fuels in Poland’s national grid.

Quarter‑Wide Energy Distribution

• Overall coal contribution in the second quarter: 45.2%.
• Energy from natural gas plants makes up the majority of the remaining share.
• Emission‑free generation rose to 49.5% on June 29, according to the Instrat Foundation.

Implications for the Polish Energy Landscape

Although fossil fuels still dominate the mix, the gradual rise of renewables signals a pivotal transition toward a greener future. The recent uptick in non‑carbon energy reflects ongoing efforts to reduce dependence on coal and lower greenhouse gas emissions.

Looking Ahead

Poland’s move towards a more sustainable energy portfolio aligns with broader European objectives to decarbonize electricity production. The recent data suggests continued momentum, as renewable penetration climbs and coal’s influence wanes.

RES in Poland: Favourable weather, unfavourable regulations

Poland’s Renewable Energy Pulse in 2025

Surge in Solar Generation

Dr Maria Niewierko of the Energy Forum (Forum Energii) highlights that solar output climbed by 24 % year‑over‑year, reaching a total installed capacity of 23 GW. Five years ago, Poland had only 2 GW of photovoltaic installations.

Wind Power Performance

June’s wind conditions were exceptional, triggering a doubling of wind production compared to the previous year. However, as July began, the share of renewable energy sources (RES) in overall generation slipped to roughly 33‑34 %.

Challenges Ahead

• Seasonal Decline: Industry stakeholders warn that winter will see a pronounced drop in solar efficiency, pushing overall RES share down.
• Regulatory Hurdles: Onshore wind development, halted almost entirely by the 2016 government, only saw liberalisation two years ago and remains limited.
• Legislative Delays: A bill designed to unlock the cheapest wind technology awaits presidential approval, with a president less inclined to endorse it.
• Nuclear Project Postponement: The planned launch of Poland’s first nuclear plant was supposed for 2033 but is now being considered for 2036.

Infrastructure and Investment Needs

Sebastian Skolimowski of PAD RES, a renewable energy plant design firm, points out that the outdated transmission grid and insufficient energy storage are major bottlenecks.

Key Recommendations

• Invest heavily in grid expansion and digitalisation to better handle peak generation.
• Develop robust storage facilities to store surplus renewable energy.
• Establish stable policies that favor the growth of wind farms.

Looking Forward

Poland’s trajectory toward a greener energy mix is clear, but realizing its full potential will hinge on swift infrastructure upgrades, policy clarity, and large‑scale investment in both grid and storage solutions.

Poland is one of the world’s most polluting economies

Poland’s Energy Transition: A Mixed Picture

While the share of fossil fuels in Poland’s electricity generation has steadily decreased, the country’s overall economy remains heavily dependent on imported energy sources.

Key Trends Since EU Accession

• Coal consumption has fallen by 38 %.
• Oil consumption has risen by 41 %.
• Natural gas usage has increased by 43 %.

Financial Impact of Imported Fossil Fuels

According to Kacper Kwidziński, an analyst with the Energy Forum, Poland paid a staggering PLN 112 billion for imported fossil fuels in 2024, even though the country no longer relies on raw material supplies from Russia.

Growing Import Dependence

• The overall share of energy imports has risen from 29 % to 45 % over a decade.
• Crude oil remains the biggest single source, with nearly 97 % of the nation’s demand met by foreign providers.

These statistics underline that Poland’s economic vitality still hinges on imported energy, driving up expenditures and reinforcing dependence.

Poland’s Global Emission Ranking

The Energy Transition of Poland 2025 report reveals that Poland continues to rank among the world’s most polluting economies, both per unit of GDP and per unit of energy consumption.

• Only Kuwait, South Africa, Kazakhstan and China exhibit higher emission levels.

Poland’s trajectory illustrates the ongoing challenges of balancing energy security with environmental sustainability in the face of global market pressures.