SOURCES OF ENERGY IN POLAND

by Jakub Chojnacki

Poland uses coal for over 90 percent of its electricity

production, more than double the world average, and is a major contributor to global

warming. Poland is one of the top 20 states in the world for

CO2 emissions.

Greenpeace activists deliver the message to a meeting of major polluters in Poland.

In our country there is a great potential for producing energy from hydro-

electric, bio-mass and bio-gas sources. Hydro-electric power hasn’t been

sufficiently utilised to date, bio-mass sources in the form of waste from the

timber industry, agricultural and horticultural waste is widely available in Poland and the possibility for using

bio-gas is promising.

Despite a relatively slow start, Poland is becoming a major destination for renewable energy investment. A

combination of EU policies and market forces is driving Poland to adopt clean energy sources at a faster pace than ever before which will not only help to reverse the

negative effects of climate change, but will also increase the country’s energy security.

Solar energy

is energy

recovered from

direct and scattered (reflected) solar radiation.

Wind turbines convert kinetic energy in wind into mechanical energy that can be used for specific purposes (e.g. pumping water) or, with the use

of power generator, for generation of electricity. 

Advantages of wind as a source of energy:

• Wind is a clean source of power, i.e. the production of wind-based energy does not pollute the air and does not result in the emission of greenhouse gases; etc.;

• Wind is a local source of energy, production of wind-based power increases the power safety of a country;

• Wind is the so-called renewable source of energy, i.e. a source that cannot be depleted;

• Wind is one of the cheapest renewable sources of energy.

Kinetic energy of the flowing water is converted into mechanical energy which, when a generator is connected to a system, allows to produce electricity.

Advantages of using water as a source of energy:

• It is a clean, renewable source of energy;• It is a local source, increasing the power

security of a country;• It is available on request – the flow of water

through the system can be controlled;• Hydro power plants are a source of additional

benefits: e.g. power plants can be used for recreation purposes (fishing, sailing) and the reservoirs can be used as storage reservoirs and supply drinking water.

Poland has a sizable reserve of geothermal energy.

Geothermal swimming pool, Zakopane