Decarbonising Poland’s Power System: A Scenario-Based Evaluation

The study evaluates 19 scenarios for decarbonising Poland's power system by 2050, concluding that a technology-inclusive strategy is essential for reliability and cost-effectiveness. It identifies wind and solar as cornerstones but emphasizes the need for 'clean firm power' to replace coal, which currently provides 70% of dispatchable generation. The report warns that excluding options like nuclear power or carbon capture could triple the required energy infrastructure and significantly increase costs. Key recommendations include expanding onshore wind to approximately 70 GW, establishing a nuclear fleet exceeding 8 GW, and implementing natural gas plants with carbon capture.

• Poland's transition to a decarbonised grid by 2050 requires a technology-inclusive strategy to manage risk and uncertainty, as limiting options—such as excluding carbon capture or new nuclear power—could triple the necessary energy infrastructure, including transmission networks, and significantly raise costs.
• While wind and solar are expected to be the primary components of the grid, Poland needs substantial 'clean firm power' (non-weather-dependent, always-available zero-carbon power) to maintain reliability and control costs, especially as it moves away from coal, which currently accounts for 70% of its dispatchable and firm generation.
• The study recommends specific capacity targets and technological deployments, including increasing onshore wind power to approximately 70 GW (a sevenfold increase) and establishing a long-term nuclear fleet with a total capacity exceeding 8 GW.

APA

Clean Air Task Force (n.d.). Decarbonising Poland’s Power System: A Scenario-Based Evaluation. https://cdn.catf.us/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/25124306/CATF-Decarbonising-Polands-Power-Sector-Executive-Summary.pdf

Chicago

Clean Air Task Force. Decarbonising Poland’s Power System: A Scenario-Based Evaluation. n.d. https://cdn.catf.us/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/25124306/CATF-Decarbonising-Polands-Power-Sector-Executive-Summary.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Clean Air Task Force |title=Decarbonising Poland’s Power System: A Scenario-Based Evaluation |url=https://cdn.catf.us/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/25124306/CATF-Decarbonising-Polands-Power-Sector-Executive-Summary.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{cleanairtaskforcenddecarbonising, author = {{Clean Air Task Force}}, title = {{Decarbonising Poland’s Power System: A Scenario-Based Evaluation}}, institution = {Clean Air Task Force}, url = {https://cdn.catf.us/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/25124306/CATF-Decarbonising-Polands-Power-Sector-Executive-Summary.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }