Policy Guidance for the Ministry of Energy and Ministry of Climate and Environment of Poland

The document argues that Poland must adopt a 'technology-optionality approach' to decarbonise its coal-dependent power system without compromising reliability or industrial competitiveness. It recommends a diverse portfolio including nuclear energy (targeting over 8 GW), expanded onshore wind (up to 70 GW), and the integration of carbon capture and storage (CCS) for energy-intensive industries. The brief calls for the update of national strategies—including the Polish Nuclear Power Programme (PPEJ) and the National Hydrogen Strategy—by 2025-2026 to provide investment certainty. Additionally, it advocates for the exploration of next-generation geothermal energy, the implementation of EU methane regulations, and the development of a clean hydrogen roadmap that balances low-carbon and renewable production pathways.

• Poland's power system decarbonisation requires a 'technology-optionality approach' to avoid excessive costs and infrastructure needs. Modelling indicates that excluding options like new nuclear energy or carbon capture could 'significantly raise the cost of decarbonisation and triple the infrastructure required', particularly regarding transmission.
• To expedite the phase-out of coal, Poland should maximise onshore wind deployment to approximately 70 GW, which represents a 'sevenfold increase from the current capacity'.
• The document recommends a long-term nuclear capacity exceeding 8 GW and the adoption of an updated Polish Nuclear Power Programme (PPEJ) by the end of 2025. This update should include a transparent financing model, a vision for a second nuclear power plant (EJ2), and the 'abandonment of spent fuel reprocessing plans' due to nonproliferation concerns.
• Poland's energy-intensive industries contribute around 10.5% of the EU's total greenhouse gas emissions, necessitating the deployment of CCS. The brief recommends creating a National CCUS strategy by Q1 2026 and funding exploration drilling for at least one priority onshore storage site to be licensed by 2027.
• Poland is the third largest producer and consumer of hydrogen in Europe, but production is almost exclusively carbon-intensive. The brief recommends an updated National Hydrogen Strategy in the first half of 2026 that scales low-carbon hydrogen (such as steam methane reformers with CCS) in the near term while RES availability is prioritised for grid decarbonisation.
• The document advocates for the exploration of next-generation geothermal energy, specifically 'superhot rock geothermal' (temperatures of 374°C or more), which could generate five to ten times more power per well than conventional systems.
• Regarding methane abatement, Poland emitted an estimated 58 kt of methane in the oil and gas sector in 2023. The brief suggests that state-owned companies, including Polskie Górnictwo Naftowe i Gazownictwo and PKN Orlen, should be encouraged to join the OGMP 2.0 framework.

APA

Clean Air Task Force (n.d.). Policy Guidance for the Ministry of Energy and Ministry of Climate and Environment of Poland. https://cdn.catf.us/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/28074221/Policy-Guidance-for-the-Ministry-of-Energy-and-Ministry-of-Climate-and-Environment-of-Poland-EN.pdf

Chicago

Clean Air Task Force. Policy Guidance for the Ministry of Energy and Ministry of Climate and Environment of Poland. n.d. https://cdn.catf.us/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/28074221/Policy-Guidance-for-the-Ministry-of-Energy-and-Ministry-of-Climate-and-Environment-of-Poland-EN.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Clean Air Task Force |title=Policy Guidance for the Ministry of Energy and Ministry of Climate and Environment of Poland |url=https://cdn.catf.us/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/28074221/Policy-Guidance-for-the-Ministry-of-Energy-and-Ministry-of-Climate-and-Environment-of-Poland-EN.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{cleanairtaskforcendpolicy, author = {{Clean Air Task Force}}, title = {{Policy Guidance for the Ministry of Energy and Ministry of Climate and Environment of Poland}}, institution = {Clean Air Task Force}, url = {https://cdn.catf.us/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/28074221/Policy-Guidance-for-the-Ministry-of-Energy-and-Ministry-of-Climate-and-Environment-of-Poland-EN.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }