“What kind of energy do investors need to develop in Poland and drive the economy?” was the topic of the debate organised during the XXXIII Economic Forum by the French-Polish Chamber of Commerce (CCIFP).
Decarbonization of the economy is inevitable. But what is needed in the energy market to make it successful?
– The energy system should be stable, cheap, green, decarbonized. But the most important parameter is the price, which determines the competitive position – said at the beginning Paweł Bielski, vice president of Grupa Azoty, the leader of the domestic fertilizer market and one of the key fertilizer and chemical groups in Europe. As he said, in the case of this company, gas constitutes 70-80 percent of the product cost.
Adam Ponichtera, director of the Polish branch of DATA4, one of the main European operators and investors in the data center market, presented a similar view. He added infrastructure issues and long waiting times for connection to the network to the list of challenges in the energy market. Of course, environmental issues remain in the background. As Adam Ponichtera said, customers want to know whether their servers will be powered by green energy – in this area, DATA4 has set itself the goal of all the company’s campuses using 100% renewable energy. That is why data centers are already developing tools that measure carbon footprints, which allow companies to assess their environmental impact in the area of technology and data processing.
Professor, PhD, engineer Jakub Kupecki, director of the Energy Institute, pointed out that the problem of energy prices for business recipients has a broader dimension. It is not only about the situation here and now, but also about the perspective of 20–40 years of the investment’s operation.
– The first solution for price stabilization is energy storage, but infrastructure also counts. The waiting time for connection is terrifying – he assessed.
As he emphasized, the decision-making system needs to be put in order. This also applies to energy storage facilities.
– In the Polish Energy Policy until 2040 there is one key final column – the competitiveness of the Polish economy. In the matter of connections, it is not about the interests of companies, but about the entire economy of the country – he emphasized.
Barbara Adamska, president of the Polish Energy Storage Association, confirmed that indeed – when it comes to challenges related to low emissions, connections to infrastructure, prices – energy storage is the solution in all these aspects.
– Of course, they will not solve all the problems in the Polish system, but they can help – she said.
Barbara Adamska drew attention to the shutdowns of photovoltaic and wind farms related to infrastructure problems. Green energy will be produced, but in its current state some of it will never enter circulation – unless it is stored. As she said, smart infrastructure, of which storage facilities can be a part, is a technical alternative to the traditional one, which requires the construction of kilometers of transmission lines. She gave the example of a production hall in Poland, completely cut off from the distribution network.
– The island solution is not a solution for the Polish industry, but it shows the determination of some entrepreneurs and the importance of price guarantees, predictability and security – she concluded.
In this context, MP Andrzej Grzyb pointed out that a key lesson from the war in Ukraine is the need to build social and economic resilience.
– Energy infrastructure is under attack, and it is easiest to damage the centralized one. That is why distributed production and storage are valuable – he assessed.
In the discussion, he also touched on two other aspects. Firstly, a member of the PSL Parliamentary Club – Trzecia Droga pointed out that the cheapest energy is the one that is not used, which is worth remembering at the stage of planning projects.
– The carbon footprint will be selective for most products from the customer’s point of view. This also applies to food – said the MP.
Secondly, Andrzej Grzyb emphasised the huge potential that Poland has when it comes to biogas. However, for now it remains completely untapped.
Arkadiusz Lewicki, director of the team for public programs and economic environments at the Polish Bank Association, presented the perspective of financial institutions during the discussion.
– The risk associated with the energy market is very intensively monitored and has a strong impact on access to capital and financing – he noted.
Banks generally pay attention to the sustainable development policy of their clients and the use of green energy in the projects they implement. A. Lewicki emphasized, however, that it is difficult for an economy based on coal to such an extent as Poland’s to meet all the requirements, e.g. of the European Commission, overnight. He also pointed to the high energy prices in Poland, as well as in Europe, compared to, for example, the United States. This is another contribution to the discussion on the competitiveness of companies and the economy, which is of key importance for development.
During the discussion, the possibilities of cooperation and synergy between business, science and local government were also discussed.
Andrzej Łazęcki, director of the Municipal Economy and Climate Department of the Krakow City Office, spoke about the latter’s competences. Energy law states, for example, that the city president, mayor or commune head prepares a draft of assumptions for the plan for the supply of heat, electricity and gas fuels. However, the representative of Krakow’s authorities also spoke about soft skills and the possibility of initiating cooperation between interested entities.
– Kraków is pursuing an ambitious climate policy – he noted, and among the actions being implemented, he gave the example of the Climate Pact. Those interested in supporting the efforts of the authorities of the capital of Małopolska in striving to achieve emission neutrality can join it. The pact has been joined by, among others, BP, Columbus Energy, InPost, Shell, the University of Economics in Kraków and the Hugo Kołłątaj University of Agriculture.
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