Column: Poland prepares for unlikely role as key energy transition test case: Maguire | – #Column #Poland #prepares #role #key #energy #transition #test #case #Maguire
LITTLETON, Colo., Feb 13 (Reuters) – Europe’s most coal-rich economy showed off its little-known green credentials by pushing clean electricity generation to a record level in 2022 and cutting coal and gas use, while bringing total electricity production back to previous levels. . all time highs.
The general increase in energy supply, in turn, allowed Poland’s heavy industry and manufacturers to maintain high production levels in 2022 and helped Poland’s gross domestic product grow at a healthy 4.9%, sharply above the expected growth rate of 1.9% for the year. more wide European Union.
Poland vs Germany industrial production (annual)
A mix of higher renewable energy production and lower fossil fuel production also helped the country reduce total electricity sector emissions in 2022 compared to the previous year.
Polish electricity generation by source
This was a rare feat last year because Russia–Ukraine The aftermath of the war forced utilities across the continent—including major economic powerhouses Germany and France—to turn back the clock on emissions targets and burn more fossil fuels to keep up with energy supplies. to businesses and households.
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RENEWABLE RESOURCES WORK
A 21.7% year-on-year increase in wind power generation in 2022 was the main driver of Poland’s electricity expansion last year, according to data from think tank Ember, as the country cut coal use by 2.7% and gas its use 20reduced by more than %. .
This surge in wind power has increased the share of wind power to a record 11% of total electricity generation, and 2018has recorded an increase of more than 50% in wind capacity since .
To be sure, the country’s power system remains heavily dependent on coal, with coal providing 69% of total electricity in 2022.
However, this share of coal 2010more than 85% in 20In 2000, it fell below 95% and Europe The country is expected to commission additional clean energy sources in the coming years as part of a broader commitment by EU member states to curb emissions. emissions.
In particular, 2018Rapid growth in solar power capacity is expected thanks to strong demand from households and small businesses for government-subsidized wind-powered panels, which have increased installed photovoltaic (PV) capacity by more than 2,500% since 2010. It is the leading source of clean energy in Poland.
Tangled Castles
As impressive as Poland’s expansion of renewable energy sources has been in recent years, energy transition watchers say the country until last year relied on imported Polish coal, gas and is more interested in whether it can successfully rebuild its energy system away from Russia, the main supplier of petroleum products. The occupation of Ukraine He blocked the flow of energy from Moscow.
Poland has been a vocal critic of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, following what Moscow called special operations last year Russia banned the import of coal.
However, outdated reserves and with domestic coal production rapidly declining due to years of underinvestment in the sector, the country faces a coal shortage in 2022, and other countries such as Germany Europe struggled to secure replacement supplies from coal producers.
This has forced Polish importers to bring in supplies from further afield, with annual seaborne imports rising more than 1,500% to more than 6.7 million tonnes in 2022, according to Kpler ship tracking data.
Sea of Polish thermal coal way import with
Given how dependent the country’s energy system is on coal, traders expect Poland’s coal imports from non-Russian suppliers to increase further in 2023. The country will import a record 1.4 million tons this month alone, mostly from Colombia, Kpler data shows.
Such high coal import volumes indicate that the downward trend in coal use seen by Polish utilities last year will reverse and rise again.
But with global thermal coal prices well above the long-term average, high volumes come with a high price tag that may make the Polish government, businesses and households reluctant to push for renewable energy for a long time, especially globally.
Until 2022, the country was expected to remain connected to the coal-heavy energy system for several more years.
Now, thanks to aggressive but widely supported government pledges to make the energy system more independent, Poland is fast emerging as one of Europe’s most critical test cases for those chasing the 2023 energy transition.
Reporting by Gavin Maguire; Edited by Sonali Paul
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The opinions expressed are those of the author. These are Confidence It does not reflect the views of Reuters News, which is committed to its principles of integrity, independence and freedom from bias. Gavin Maguire
2023-02-14 06:11:23
Source – reuters
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