Poland must increase its target for the share of renewable energy in its power mix to 71% by 2030, from an existing value of 32%, says a report from Warsaw-based think tank the Instrat Foundation.

Cooling towers at the coal-fired power station near the Turow open-pit lignite mine in Bogatynia, Poland, May 2021. (Photo by Gabriel Kuchta/Getty Images).

The European Commission expects the share of renewable energy in electricity production to amount to 68% by 2030. Poland’s existing target, outlined in its energy strategy for 2040, falls far short of  this figure, the report states.

The report suggests a renewable electricity share of 71% is achievable for Poland, through the deployment of 44GW of onshore wind capacity, 31GW of offshore wind capacity, and 79GW of rooftop and ground-mounted solar PV.

With this renewable capacity, Poland could achieve a 65% reduction in CO2 emissions in the power sector by 2030, compared with a 2015 baseline.

The report calls for the Polish government to unblock the development of new onshore wind farms, speed up the construction of offshore wind farms and create a system of incentives for the development of energy storage.