Energy transformation – challenges and the need for change Energy transformation is a key process for every country, and energy security and the need to move away from fossil fuels are its main driving forces. President Ochyński points out that currently projects related to nuclear energy and renewable energy sources
(RES) are becoming a civilizational challenge for Poland, also emphasized by politicians such as President Andrzej Duda.
However, the stability of energy supplies from renewable sources, such as solar energy, remains a problem, and requires storage support to become a reliable source of energy. Solutions are still being sought that will allow for large-scale energy storage and minimize production costs, which is key to economic affordability.
Hydrogen and batteries – the energy future?
One of the energy carriers under discussion is hydrogen, which – as Ochyński emphasized – may play a key role in the future of heavy transport. Like batteries, hydrogen is an energy carrier, but there is still a challenge related to the profitability of producing and storing this fuel on a large scale. As he notes, one of the directions of development may be electricity, which, combined with modern energy storage technologies, may contribute to the stabilization of the energy system based on renewable energy sources.
Hydrogen may become the optimal solution for heavy transport, while batteries will remain an effective solution for light transport. Ochyński points out that the future may be nuclear power plants and renewable energy supported by energy storage, which will allow for the abandonment of fossil fuels.
Electromobility – development and challenges
Electromobility is a topic that is inextricably linked to energy transformation. Ochyński draws attention to the growing scale of electric vehicle production, which is growing year by year.
Electromobility, especially in China and the United States, is developing dynamically, and Europe must catch up with these countries if it wants to become competitive in the automotive market. Ochyński points out that 10 years ago, few people were talking about electromobility on a large scale, and today, the production of electric cars reaches millions of units.
However, the development of electromobility is also associated with serious economic challenges. China, which has invested heavily in this sector, now subsidizes the export of its cars, which may in the long run affect the country’s dominance in the global automotive market.
European companies need to respond to these challenges to avoid being left behind.
Batteries and their impact on energy
Ochyński also touches on the subject of producing batteries that not only power electric vehicles, but can also be used to store energy on a micro and macro scale. Electromobility is conducive to increasing the scale of battery production, which in the long term should result in a drop in their prices. Thanks to this, in the future, home storage of energy from photovoltaics using large batteries may become a common standard.
Of course, the challenges related to batteries also concern the availability of raw materials, such as rare earth metals, which are essential for the production of modern batteries. Although the dependence on imports of these raw materials may raise some concerns, Ochyński points to the possibility of processing and recycling them, which in the long term will reduce the risk associated with dependence on other countries.
Long-term vision – 2050
One of the main goals of the energy transformation is to achieve climate neutrality by 2050. As Ochyński emphasizes, setting this time horizon is essential for countries to be able to properly plan their investments in new technologies. Although today we are talking about electromobility, in the future this technology may change, but currently electricity seems to be the most optimal energy carrier.
The fundamental question is whether Poland and Europe are ready to compete with the economies of countries such as China, which are already investing huge amounts of money in the development of electromobility. Ochyński points out that only long-term thinking and consistent investments will allow Poland to effectively participate in the global technological race.
Energy transformation and electromobility are key elements of the future of the economy, and their development is a huge challenge, but also an opportunity for Poland. As Paweł Ochyński notes, only consistent investments in new technologies, such as hydrogen, batteries and renewable energy sources, will allow us to become independent from fossil fuels and create a stable, modern energy system. Electromobility is not just a passing trend – it is the future of transport, in which the world’s largest economies are already investing. Poland must take part in this transformation so as not to be left behind.
