In the coming years, Poland may spend over PLN 500 billion on energy transformation, Climate Minister Paulina Hennig-Kloska announced on Saturday on TVN 24. She added that work on the law on the transformation fund has been resumed, from which, among others, it would be financed.
Minister of Climate and Environment Paulina Hennig-Kloska, asked in the “Talks about the end of the world” program on TVN 24 what the government’s plans are regarding the date of Poland’s departure from the use of coal in the energy sector, recalled that the party she belongs to, i.e. Poland 2050, focused on date 2040
“As the Minister of Climate and Environment, I will be able to responsibly answer this question in a few weeks, when we finish work on the National Energy and Climate Plan,” she said.
When will Poland move away from coal?
To the suggestion that she was avoiding giving the date of Poland’s withdrawal from coal, which would be set by the current government, the head of the Ministry of Culture and Environment replied:
“I cannot give it today, I cannot base it on my beliefs, only on documents and facts. My belief is that we should set ambitious goals, but they must be realistically embedded in the economy and they must be realistically embedded in the security of citizens – also those who, in the meantime, will fall into the poverty threshold and who must receive state aid,” she emphasized.
At the same time, she pointed to the “extremely important” provision in the coalition agreement, in her opinion, according to which 100 percent revenues to the state budget from the sale of CO2 emission rights must go to transformation and environmental goals.
“Today, we have basically resumed work on the ‘buried’ act on the transformation fund to which these ETS would flow. We are unblocking European funds. We do not have an unblocked National Reconstruction Plan, we are lagging behind in the implementation of the Cohesion Fund,” Hennig-Kloska pointed out.
Horrendous costs of energy transformation
As she said, from “all sources” – the sale of CO2 emission rights, environmental fees, European funds, domestic sources – “in the coming years, Poland may spend “even over PLN 500 billion” for transformation purposes.
She admitted that today we pay a lot of money for imported coal.
“This is the first challenge for the new government to invest more of this money in the country and not become dependent on the import of fossil fuels,” she emphasized.
She said her dream is to move away from fossil fuels as soon as possible. She recalled that there are countries that will reduce emissions by 70% in 2030.
“For us the challenge is 55 percent.” – Hennig-Kloska noted.
She pointed out that in order for Poland to give up coal, we must have new energy sources that “will allow us not to turn off the lights.”
“Undoubtedly, the wind farm act is one of those that must be changed, because we lack wind the most in the country’s energy balance,” said the minister.
She added that the ministry wants to complete work on the act by the end of March and submit it to consultations so that it can be submitted to the Sejm as soon as possible.
“There will be more changes needed in renewable energy sources in general,” she added.
Will we have a nuclear power plant?
“Today we are at the stage where we are estimating the schedule for the nuclear power plant, whether it is real, whether we can have the first unit in 2033. Schedule for the development of wind turbines at sea, support for the development of wind turbines on land, unlocking photovoltaics. Focus on the prosumer ” – said Hennig-Kloska.
She reminded us that we have a bottleneck – the electricity distribution network.
In her opinion, the answer to these questions will be the strategic documents currently being prepared.
“They are already being written according to our guidelines. We would like to send the first scenarios to the European Commission according to the initial proposals at the end of February,” announced Minister Hennig-Kloska.
According to the Ministry of Environmental Protection, the currently applicable National Energy and Climate Plan for 2021-2030 was adopted in 2019. It sets the following climate and energy goals for 2030: 7%. reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in sectors not covered by the ETS compared to the level in 2005, 21-23 percent share of renewable energy sources in final gross energy consumption, including 14%. share of renewable energy sources in transport, annual increase in the share of renewable energy sources in heating and cooling by 1.1 points. percent average annual, increase in energy efficiency by 23%. compared to forecasts, a reduction to 56-60 percent. share of coal in electricity production.
The Ministry noted that in the event of modifications to the goals or strategic directions contained in national development policies, draft strategies and new EU decisions regarding medium- and long-term climate and energy policy (targets for 2030 and 2050), the national plan will be linked to them. adapted.