Challenges in European, and indeed Polish, energy sectors seem to be only increasing. Therefore, the Energy thematic track will once again be featured at the Impact’22 conference, where energy experts will discuss climate neutrality, energy supply stability, and energy transformation and security.
Climate change and environmental degradation pose a threat to Europe and the rest of the world. To meet these challenges, European economies have created an action plan. However, such a transformation involves an unprecedented amount of work, investment, and administrative changes. Therefore, during Impact’22, the Energy track will once again be an important element of the entire conference, and Impact’22 guests, experts in the field of energy, will talk about the present state of Polish and European energy, as well as its future.
The current European energy situation has changed dramatically in the face of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The shape of Polish energy policy can become more ambitious due to Russian aggression in Ukraine. This will be a major test for Poland and the Polish energy sector, but also an opportunity for a more dynamic transformation, and consequently, the pursuit of faster climate neutrality.
On the one hand, the Polish government plans to invest in increasing domestic coal extraction capabilities to enhance Poland's energy security. On the other hand, being cut off from Russian raw materials and losing access to Russian gas may lead to an intense search for alternative and clean energy sources and clean technologies, consequently accelerating the energy transformation in Poland. This topic will be discussed by guests during a moderated discussion on energy diversification.
In Poland, in 2021, 72% of energy came from coal, and 83% of total energy came from fossil fuels. Renewable sources accounted for 16% of installed energy sources.
The current goal for reducing fossil fuels in Poland's energy mix is to achieve 50 GW from RES by 2030. By 2040, the share of RES in the Polish mix is projected to be around 50%. Impact’22 guests will participate in a discussion about Poland's climate ambitions by 2050. Issues of climate neutrality and the future of Polish energy will be addressed.
Another topic within the Energy track will be the European Green Deal, which aims to help transform the entire European Union into a modern, resource-efficient, and competitive economy.
Topics such as reducing energy and RES production costs, off-grid energy production, the role of prosumers in building a zero-emission policy strategy, offshore wind in Poland, as well as Poland's energy self-sufficiency and the digitalization of the energy sector will also be discussed.
Among the guests of the Energy track will be, among others:
Andrzej Ziółkowski, UDT
Ireneusz Zyska, Ministry of Climate and Environment
Krzysztof Zamasz, Veolia
Rafał Gawin, URE
Dalida Gepfert, Veolia
Kornel Koronowski, Global Shapers Warsaw Hub