The geopolitical situation exerts influence on the energy market in Europe. The war in Ukraine, the threat from Russia and the change in administration in the United States mean that European Union countries must particularly take care of independence and energy security.
Participants of the discussion during European Economic Congress They talked about what was needed so that the appropriate changes could take place.
Necessary elements of transformation
Marcin Laskowski, Vice President of the Board for Regulation PGE Polska Grupa Energetyczna, emphasized the need to take care of the competitiveness of European industry and the entire economy. And as he emphasized, they affect the price of energy.
PGE’s vice president reminded that in Poland for many years the production of energy was dealt with by central units operating on the basis of brown and stone coal.
– Not so long ago, because before 2020, the share of hard and brown coal in electricity production exceeded 70 percent in our country. This began to change as the European Union began setting the goals of the green transformation. We have to transform, but consciously, with security – he said, adding that moving away from traditional, highly -emission sources in favor of modern, balanced, but dispersed brings challenges. They do not ensure continuity of energy supply. Therefore, gas sources will be the necessary stabilizer when switching to nuclear energy.
– The amount of green energy supplies is slowly ceasing to be a problem. It becomes to ensure that the appropriate power in the energy system is maintained all the time. This is missing, and flexible control units work well in this area – said Marcin Laskowski, also pointing out that the future of renewable energy depends on the safety of the base of the power system. That is why, as he noted, the development of transmission and distribution networks, which was so far, was so important.
– Now they must take into account the flexible transmission He said, adding that energy magazines will also be support for the country’s sustainable energy transformation.
– We plan to implement them. We started with the construction of the largest energy warehouse in Poland with a capacity of over 900 MWh. In the 10-year perspective, we want to implement 80 projects with a total capacity of 17 GWH. This will allow you to supply energy for 24 hours of 2.5 million households – said vice president of PGE Polska Grupa Energetyczna vice.
Panel participants also drew attention to the need to take care of appropriate regulations that will help in building energy independence and transformation. Investments require not only time and money, but also a predictable environment. That is why it is important to create regulatory framework, preferably through the dialogue of decision -makers with the business world. Among the indicated solutions is the development of public-private partnership.
– Mechanisms are needed to ensure the profitability of project, not to mention energy security, because it is obvious. In addition, it is necessary to ensure financing. That is why we postulate an extension of the modernization fund’s operation, which aims to support the modernization of energy systems and improve energy efficiency – said Marcin Laskowski, adding that regulations should promote the implementation of new projects and be more consistent. Each country in the European Union has its own regulations.
– It is also important to take care of stable ETS prices, because there are many indications that the costs of emission allowances may increase rapidly. It is also a postulate to not connect the mechanisms of flexibility with a typical power market. It is necessary to take into account the specifics of our country, in which we will need a power market based on conventional sources for some time. Meanwhile, we have an example from 2024, when the power market was dominated by energy warehouses. It should be possible to connect instruments, but it cannot be obligatory – pointed out Marcin Laskowski.
Europe has the advantages
Participants of the discussion had no doubt that the time came to act in advance, not Post Factum, i.e. looking for a cure for what has already happened. As noted, the situation forces us to do so, very uncertain, with many unknowns. Therefore, you need to start creating what you want to achieve.
– It is also worth focusing on the diversification of gas supply. What we do as a company. We invest in our own gas extraction, but we are also expanding the fleet to transport it. You need to use the current time to gain independence, so as not to be dependent on turbulence in the world – said Witold Literacki, Vice President of the Board of Corporate for Corporate ORLEN SA.
Rolands Irklis, president of AS AugstSprieguma Tīks from Latvia spoke in a similar tone, who said that the European energy market has a strong position in the world, even more powerful than the USA, where there is no common energy market. It should be used. He also emphasized the huge role of integration at the European level, indicating that the more EU countries work together, the more the energy market will be safe.
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