Strategic Importance of Natural Gas in Polish Energy Policy: A Critical Analysis

Abstract

This article deals with the importance of natural gas as an energy source in Polish energy policy� Its purpose is to analyze the extent to which natural gas can provide for ensuring state energy security� This article covers issues related to the diagnosis of the gas sector in Poland (the most important economic entities, the functioning of the gas market), its role in the national energy strategy and prospects for future gas use� The article points out that natural gas, although important for maintaining and securing state energy security, is, however, not crucial in this regard� Multiannual strategies envisage diversification of the way of generating energy, which means the opportunity for renewable energy sources (RES) and nuclear energy� Natural gas has a secondary meaning in this context�

Technical and Economic Analysis of Low-Emissions Modernization of Existing Heating Plants in Poland

“…One of the possible courses of modernization of heating plants that can play a very important role in terms of low-emission development involves the development of a gas-based system [9]. The constantly growing energy consumption, resulting from rapid economic development, population growth and technological progress, has led to the consideration of the application of natural gas as a fuel offering relatively low CO 2 emissions, and hence, it has gained an increasingly popular role in the energy sector and forms a very important raw material for the global economy [17]. One of the ways of increasing the consumption of natural gas involves its application in the existing coal-fired power plants and combined heat and power plants [18,19].…”

“…≈ 55 kg CO 2 /GJ). These technologies are also characterized by relatively high energy efficiency [17,22].…”