Evaluating the Progress of Renewable Energy Sources in Poland: A Multidimensional Analysis

Abstract

Energy is a key driver of all modern economies. Sustainable development is playing an increasingly important role both at regional and local levels. It is a compromise between social and economic needs and the preservation of nature. In the policy of the European Union, the idea of sustainable development and environmental protection is of decisive importance for the implemented programs and economic activities. Contemporary challenges require the transformation of the energy market towards greater use of renewable sources. According to Directive 2009/28/EC of the European Parliament and European Council on promoting energy from renewable sources, Poland has committed itself to achieving a 23% share of renewable energy in gross final energy consumption by 2030. This goal considers total energy consumption in terms of power, engineering, heating, refrigeration, and transport. The aim of this paper was, firstly, an analysis of the share of renewable energy in the European Union over an 18-year period (2004–2021), with particular emphasis on the position of Poland. The second objective was the analysis of renewable energy at the local level in Poland, i.e., at the local government unit (LAU) level. Changes in the share of renewable energy in Poland compared to other European countries were also examined. The study utilized functional analysis of principal components and cluster analysis based on the data from the Central Statistical Office and EUROSTAT. The study found that while Poland does not differ significantly from other countries in using renewable energy, it does fall below the European average. Principal component analysis suggests that Poland responds adequately to European changes in the share of renewable energy in total energy consumption. This dynamic is stable (over 95% explained by the first component) and applies to most countries surveyed. In addition, the authors sought to answer questions relating to the current status of renewable energy sources in Poland, the barriers and challenges facing the introduction of renewable energy in the country, a comparative analysis of Poland’s progress in renewable energy with other global counterparts, and an exploration of the future prospects and potential for the development of renewable energy in Poland. The study found that the potential for renewable energy is greatest in the northern areas of Poland, with photovoltaics and wind power plants providing the greatest capacity. Poland’s renewable energy potential is very high and will be determined by technological development, political, economic, and social issues.

Are Local Commune Governments Interested in the Development of Photovoltaics in Their Area? An Inside View of Poland

“…The increase in energy demand [3], the implementation of the European Union's climate and energy policy [4,5], and recent political events (the war in Ukraine) have been a verifier of the importance of energy policy. The countries' authorities observed that moving the power generation model from central to distributed with energy storage is preferable.…”

“…Energy production from natural sources, for example, from the sun, is one of the realizations of the green economy. It is a response to ongoing climate change [3][4][5], capable of paying off in the long term [6].…”

Renewable Energy Investments in Poland: Goals, Socio-Economic Benefits, and Development Directions

“…For many years, Poland has paid increasing attention to investments in renewable energy sources as an alternative to traditional ones that burn fossil fuels, which contribute to environmental pollution and climate change [10][11][12][13]. The future of renewable energy in Poland after 2020 seems promising due to the growing interest in this form of energy from both the state authorities, the public, and investors [14][15][16].…”

Reviewing the Situation and Prospects for Developing Small Renewable Energy Systems in Poland

“…There is no doubt that building a low-emission and resource-efficient economy whose priority is environmental protection in the face of the depletion of conventional energy sources is desirable [33][34][35][36][37][38]. Researchers indicate that the production of renewable energy helps reduce a country's energy dependence [39][40][41]. This aspect is of strategic importance for many world economies, also due to the Russian-Ukrainian war (read more [42][43][44]).…”