After a two-year delay, Poland has finalised its National Energy and Climate Plan (NECP). The country with the historically highest share of lignite and hard coal in its energy mix has decided to permanently end the use of these two most polluting fuels by 2040.
The energy currently supplied by lignite and hard coal will be replaced mainly by renewable energy sources (RES), whose share is expected to reach 69% by 2040. At the same time, fossil gas consumption in 2040 is projected to be lower than in 2025 (20 bcm), raising questions about the prospects of the new LNG terminal planned in Poland.
Progress is also expected in energy storage, with the addition of 2.4 GW of pumped hydro storage. However, batteries will account for the largest share of new storage capacity, reaching 6 GW by 2030 and 19 GW by 2040.
Finally, the Polish government has committed to ensuring that the transformation of coal mining regions is carried out in a fair and socially responsible manner. The NECP includes support for mining regions, protection of jobs and the development of new industrial skills.
