Poland needs an ‘anchor’ for its energy transition, according to a new report by the Reform Institute. Updating Poland’s Energy Policy and extending its timeframe to 2050 presents an opportunity to bring order to the chaos in strategic management and to capitalise on a unique development opportunity. This document could become a set  of concrete measures addressing the urgent challenges facing the national energy sector and serve as a reference point for future strategic projects. 

In March, the Polish government will submit the final version of the National Energy and Climate Plan (aKPEiK) to the European Commission. This document serves primarily as a reporting and coordination tool – it sets out objectives and forecasts, but does not give the energy transition a fully operational character. In accordance with legal provisions, it also does not constitute a basis for administrative decision-making. Meanwhile, Poland lacks a strategy that would serve as an anchor for managing the energy transition. 

As a new report by the Reform Institute indicates, this role could be fulfilled by an updated Polish Energy Policy with a horizon extended to mid-century (PEP2050), on which the government will soon begin work. 

It is PEP2050 that should become the core of a coherent ecosystem of strategic documents – a document that anchors development goals in concrete and measurable targets, as well as clearly assigning responsibilities and setting out a timetable for action. With the announcement of an update to the document setting out the development framework for the energy sector, a rare window of opportunity has opened to shift the management of the energy transition from reactive to proactive – comments Monika Helak, the report’s author. 

PEP2050 to the rescue from management chaos 

Extending the planning horizon is essential to avoid costly investment pitfalls – such as the excessive expansion of gas infrastructure – and to accelerate the necessary investments in grid expansion, zero-emission generation capacity and storage facilities that increase flexibility. The PEP should also set out a framework for sector-specific strategic documents, such as the Polish Nuclear Energy Programme or the hydrogen strategy. 

The update of the PEP should draw on the experience gained from work on the KPEiK, which exposed significant gaps and the Polish government’s lack of ambition. Some of these issues stemmed from insufficient dialogue with stakeholders. The public consultation process helped to improve the subsequent version of the KPEiK, but it still does not contain all the necessary additions. 

In the latest draft of the aKPEiK, we noted improvements in 19 out of 37 assessed areas. Despite this, none of them achieved the highest rating; in 16 we observed no change, and in two – a deterioration. The new document, although much better refined, still fails to meet some of the EU requirements and national needs regarding transition management – notes Maciej Lipiński, the report’s author. 

The new PEP presents an opportunity to move away from overly conservative transition planning and the neglect of cooperation with key stakeholders. It is a chance to set more ambitious targets in order to proactively address upcoming challenges, such as rising energy prices or supply chain disruptions. Ensuring adequate public dialogue will, in turn, strengthen support for the reforms and help prepare a comprehensive energy transition plan. 

Care must be taken to create a coherent framework of strategic documents, building on the experience gained from work on updating the KPEiK and PEP. It is not just about the documents themselves, but also the process of their creation: establishing consistent objectives, developing analytical tools and ensuring structured cooperation with stakeholders – says Aleksander Śniegocki, the report’s author.