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Fruit and vegetable processing comes 6th in terms of energy consumption in the agri-food industry. At the same time, 88.4% of the industry's final energy consumption structure is thermal energy, which depends heavily on electricity consumption. In addition, fruit and vegetable processing has a significant impact on the environment due to consumption of significant amounts of water. Reducing these three indicators simultaneously would increase the efficiency of the process while improving environmental protection. This paper proposes neural models of thermal energy, electricity and water consumption for selected major fruit- and vegetable-processing plants in Poland. These models were the basis for formulating a multi-criteria optimization task. Optimization of thermal energy, electricity and water consumption was carried out using genetic algorithms. The optimization results in the sense of Pareto can be the basis for the use of sustainable technology in selected fruit- and vegetable-processing plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the face of ongoing climate changes and the current geopolitical situation, Renewable Energy Sources (RES) are continuously gaining popularity in many countries. Objectives related to environmental protection and the use of RES set by different countries all over the world, as well as by the European Union (EU), are becoming priorities for many. The increase in the installed capacity of photovoltaic systems has been growing steadily for several years, leading to the creation of new systems accompanying PV installations; this phenomenon has also been observed in Poland. This paper presents a photovoltaic system in the form of a bicycle shed next to a school building as an example of building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) without connection to the power grid. It was shown that the energy consumption profile should be properly correlated with the production profile, otherwise significant losses occur. Alternative methods to improve the correlation of production and energy consumption by using SCADA systems or building automation to properly manage the electricity generation and consumption installation were also proposed. Furthermore, it was shown that adopting a fixed discount rate in financial analyses can distort the picture of real profits. An analysis of the changes in the NPV ratio using variable discount rates was carried out when analyzing the entire life of the solar plant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The publication presents heat and electricity management in the Polish steel industry. The paper is based on actual data on heat and electricity consumption and intensity by processes in the steel industry in Poland in Industry 4.0 conditions. Two steel production processes are used in Poland: EAF Electric Arc Furnace and BOF Basic Oxygen Furnace. The analysis is an analysis of actual data is used to characterise the electricity and heat consumption by processes in the Polish steel industry. The analysis shows that the EAF technology is always more electricity intensive and the BOF technology more heat intensive. On the basis of conducted analysis, it can be concluded that pro-environmental innovations in the steel industry should first aim to reduce the electricity consumption of EAF technology and the heat consumption of BOF. An analysis of data for Poland for the period 2004–2020 shows that both cases occurred. The study shows that the heat consumption of BOF technologies has been steadily decreasing since 2010, and the electricity consumption of EAF technologies has been decreasing throughout the period under review. It can be concluded from this that the Polish steel industry is adapting to pro-environmental requirements and, through the introduction of technological innovations, is moving towards the concept of sustainable steel production according to green steel principles. The decrease in energy intensity (means electricity) of steel produced according to EAF technology is an important issue, as the high energy intensity of EAF processes affects the overall energy intensity of the steel production in Poland. In the future, the use of new innovative technological solutions, including solutions based on Industry 4.0 principles, should help the Polish steel industry to further reduce the level of electricity and heat consumption. The driving force behind the investment is the boom in the steel market. The authors made a short-term forecasts of steel production (2022–2025). The annual forecasts determined and analyses made were used to determine the heat and energy consumption of the Polish steel industry up to 2025. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The analyses presented in the publication allowed, on the basis of the data collected, development of an econometric model for the Polish steel industry from the point of view of the relationship between heat and energy management in the steel production process. The developed model is the main novelty of the paper. The main objective of the study was to develop an econometric model of Poland's heat and energy economy. The following research questions were raised: Is there an econometric model describing heat consumption (intensity) in the steel industry in Poland in relation to steel production and the energy economy? What are the relations between heat intensity and energy prices and steel production in Poland? How might the current energy crisis affect steel production? In the analysis we used data of energy and heat management in the Polish steel industry. An econometric model was developed of the dependence of heat consumption (Yt) on electricity prices (X1t) and steel production (X2t) in Poland. The authors took advantage of open access to data. Annual volumes of heat consumption in steel production processes in Poland were analysed as a function of the annual volume of steel production and the prices of electricity, which are consumed in technological processes in steel mills. We analyzed data for years 2004–2020. The analyses carried out showed that there is an inversely proportional relationship between electricity prices and the intensity of heat consumption by the steel industry. Research shows that rising energy prices lead to lower steel production. This is a dangerous phenomenon for the steel industry in the context of the current energy crisis caused by the pandemic and war in Ukraine. We think that the significance of our results is connected with the fact that the developed model is a useful analytical tool, as it not only allows the analysis of historical data, but can also be used to predict how steel industry parameters will change in the future under the influence of changes in external factors, such as energy prices. This gives a wide range of analytical possibilities for the use of the model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a dedicated system for de-icing trolley wires. The proposed issue is appropriately under the protection of intellectual property for solving as described in patent no.B1 230665 PL in the Patent Office of the Republic of Poland. In the solution presented herein, de-icing is achieved mainly by electrodynamic force excitation and secondarily as a result of heating. Because ice is removed primarily through vibrations, it avoids a large consumption of electricity associated with the high specific heat of water. More importantly, operation is nearly simultaneously applied to the total distance of the trolley power grid between two substations. For this reason, it requires less electricity consumption and less time to apply than in heating, mechanical, or chemical methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyzes the changes in carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions related to energy consumption in the Polish agricultural sector between 2000 and 2019. Based on the Logarithmic Mean Divisia Index (LMDI), the changes in agricultural CO2 emissions are viewed in the context of changes in six factors, i.e., CO2 emission intensity, substitution of fossil fuels, penetration of renewable energies, energy intensity, labor productivity and number of employees. The analysis demonstrated that total energy consumption declined over the study period; this was related to a reduction in the intake of energy derived from solid fossil fuels (−1.05%), crude oil (−1.01%), electricity (−4.89%), and heat (−1.37%), and to an increased consumption of natural gas (5.78%) and biofuels (0.82%). Furthermore, it follows from the analysis that changes in CO2 emissions witnessed in that period were consistent with changes in energy consumption levels; this resulted from a negligible transformation of the energy mix (largely determined by fossil fuels). Generally, CO2 emissions declined over the study period at a rate comparable (−0.9%) to that of the reduction in energy consumption (−1.03%). In light of the LMDI method, the reduction in CO2 emissions from fuel consumption in the Polish agricultural sector was mainly driven by a reduction in energy intensity and in employment. Conversely, rapid growth in labor productivity was the key factor in increasing carbon dioxide emissions. Compared to these impacts, changes in other factors (i.e., emission intensity, energy mix and penetration of renewable energies) had an extremely small or marginal effect on the variation in CO2 emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of fossil fuel-based energy systems that provide heat and electricity to a building has adverse environmental impacts. These impacts can be mitigated, to a certain extent, through the incorporation of renewable energy sources (RES). The primary objective of this study was to conduct an environmental assessment of the performance of energy systems in existing public facilities located in Poland. Based on the findings, we proposed and implemented changes to these systems and validated the environmental impact of the RES systems used. SimaPro 8.1 software and the Ecoinvent 3.0 database were employed for the analysis, which entailed an environmental assessment of six public facilities located in Poland. The installation of RES resulted in an average 27% reduction in electricity consumption from the national electricity grid. This reduction was observed to be the least in the hospital and the most in the religious building. This was reflected in the environmental assessment of heating systems. The implementation of RES reduced the environmental impact of the religious building by an average of 20%. Concurrently, the CO2 emissions decreased by 35%, SO2 by 44%, and PM10 by 42%. Significant investments and the installation of advanced RES will not prevent the occurrence of unintentional environmental consequences unless the demand for electricity and thermal energy is reduced. The use of RES in the analyzed buildings and the associated avoided emissions do not entirely offset the negative emissions resulting from the utilization of other (conventional) energy sources in the analyzed energy systems of public buildings. Consequently, the analyzed facilities collectively exert a detrimental impact on the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work presents an economic analysis of the use of electricity storage in PV installations, based on previously adopted assumptions, i.e., the type and location of the tested facility and comparative variants, divided into the share of the storage in the installation, and the billing system. The work takes into account the share of the energy shield and assumes a consumption limit of 2000 kWh. The cost of building the installation is based on July 2023 prices. The work assumes potential directions of changes in electricity prices, based on which the degree of investment profitability for a given price situation is determined. Depending on the adopted change in the direction of electricity prices, with a low price increase rate, for installations in the new billing system (net-billing), the optimal choice is an installation without energy storage with a power exceeding the actual energy demand. Assuming a high increase in electricity prices, the optimal choice is an installation with energy storage with an installation capacity exceeding the actual demand. For installations billed using the net-metering system, the optimal choice is an installation without storage with an appropriately selected installation power. This article shows how much you can gain after installing a PV installation and not only what costs must be incurred to complete the investment. Profit analysis will enable a more complete assessment of the profitability of investing in PV panels (with or without energy storage). It describes the verification of the profitability of a PV installation for a standard user depending on various types of settlements with the electricity supplier and the lack or installation of an energy-storage facility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The buildings sector is the single most important end-user of final energy in the European Union and a significant contributor to carbon and greenhouse gas emissions. This work focuses on a review of available data that are used to calculate the annual emissions from electricity generation in the European Union and quantify indirect emissions from the use of electricity in the buildings sector. Historical data since 1990 are used to derive simple empirical correlations for the time evolution of emissions factors related to electricity production in each Member State of the European Union. More recent trajectories using data from the last ten years are also presented. The derived correlations can be easily integrated in building stock modeling and national studies to facilitate forward-looking projections of emissions from electricity use in buildings. The EU-27 averages 0.2883 kgCO2-eq/kWhel, ranging from 0.0456 kgCO2-eq/kWhel in Sweden up to 1.0595 kgCO2-eq/kWhel in Poland. As a case study, the derived coefficients are then used to quantify the indirect emissions from the electricity consumption attributed to the building stock in each EU Member State. The calculated total EU-27 GHG indirect emissions attributed to electricity consumption amounted to 215 MtCO2-eq for residential buildings and 201 MtCO2-eq for non-residential buildings. In addition, the proposed correlations are used to demonstrate how they can be used for more realistic future projections of emissions towards the national targets in Greece and Poland. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, we aim to identify the determinants that profoundly impact renewable energy sources development in Poland. To this end, the authors have conducted qualitative and quantitative analyses of Poland's renewable energy sector. In this paper, we demonstrate an original approach considering the different development levels of the given sector across provinces (voivodeships). It uses panel data from the Local Data Bank of the Statistics Poland on electricity production from renewable energy sources in individual voivodeships in Poland from 2005 through 2019. The study confronts the results of previous studies and sheds light on the situation in Poland—specifically, upon the changes that have happened over the ten years (2010–2019). The qualitative analysis shows a negative correlation between energy consumption and the share of renewable energy sources in total energy production. Evidence shows that favorable changes are underway in the energy production structure: RES share is growing and by degrees satisfying energy demand, and there is growing potential of energy entities in Poland. Furthermore, the analysis shows that R&D and total expenditures on environmental protection and water management investments do not significantly affect the development of RES. A dynamic panel data model has been used to analyze the group and time effects on the dependent variable. The findings confirm the existence of the persistency effect and indicate positive effects of total installed electric capacity (IEC) and household electricity consumption (HEC). Nonhousehold electricity consumption (NHEC) has a negative effect on the endogenous variable, i.e., the renewable energy sources share in the gross final energy consumption (RESS). The research results may be applicable as recommendations for energy efficiency policy development based on renewable energy sources depending on the RES development level in the regions of Poland. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

According to one definition, Smart City is an administrative unit that uses data and digital technology to improve the decision-making processes and well-being of its inhabitants. Smart Cities use modern, intelligent technologies to forecast future changes, optimize city functions, gain a better understanding of current conditions, and deliver solutions. To make the city smart, multiple connected sensors, smartphones and other IoT devices are needed. As part of the research conducted at the Technical University in Vienna, six key dimensions (categories) of smart cities have been identified and characterized: Smart Economy, Smart Mobility, Smart Environment, Smart People, Smart Living, and Smart Governance. The aim of the paper is to present the concept of the smart cities, the implemented innovative solutions and the issue of electricity saving in Smart Cities. The theoretical considerations were expanded of the presentation of selected smart city projects in Polish cities. The considerations were also supplemented with the results of research conducted on a group of respondents living in large and very large cities in Poland in order to their awareness of the concept of smart cities, awareness on smart projects implemented in their cities of residence, and the possibility of using intelligent technologies to achieve savings in electricity consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused changes in electricity demand and, consequently, electricity consumption profiles. Given the rapid changes in energy prices, it is significant from the perspective of energy companies, and forecasting consumed energy volume. A necessity for accurate energy volume planning forces the need for analyzing consumers' behaviors during the pandemic, especially under lockdowns, to prepare for the possibility of another pandemic wave. Many business clients analyzed in the paper are economic entities functioning in sectors under restrictions. That is why analyzing the pandemic's impact on the change in energy consumption profiles and volume of these entities is particularly meaningful. The article analyzes the pandemic and restrictions' impact on the total change of energy consumption volume and demand profiles. The analysis was conducted basing on data collected from a Polish energy trading and sales company. It focused on the energy consumption of its corporate clients. Analyzed data included aggregated energy consumption volumes for all company's customers and key groups of economic entities under restrictions. The analysis demonstrates the influence of pandemic restrictions on energy consumption in the group of business clients. Significant differences are observable among various sectors of the economy. The research proves that the largest drops in energy consumption are related to shopping centers and offices. Altogether, the restrictions have caused a 15–23% energy consumption drop during the first lockdown and a maximum 11% during the second against expected values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The introduction of the Green Deal in 2019 by the European Commission poses a significant challenge for EU member states whose power generation is based primarily on fossil fuels. In Poland, nearly 80% of the electricity is produced from fossil fuels. This paper presents an analysis of the risks related to the delays in the accomplishment of investment programs in the Polish power industry. Three scenarios were prepared for balancing the deficiency of about 3 GW of power and 20 TWh of electricity in the national power grid in the years 2031–2040, which may emerge as a result of the delayed accomplishment of investment programs, particularly in nuclear energy. The first scenario presents a variant entailing the rapid phasing out of coal and the replacement of the decommissioned power units with new gas-powered units, where the missing power volume would be partially balanced by import, and partially through gas-based production in the new power units. The second scenario assumes that the missing power would be balanced by retaining the existing, older coal-powered units, whereas the required electricity would be compensated by import. The third scenario involves the production of the missing volume of electricity using coal with CO2 capture in existing or new coal-powered units. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A substantial share of the building sector in global energy demand has attracted scholars to focus on the energy efficiency of the building sector. The building's energy consumption has been projected to increase due to mass urbanization, high living comfort standards, and, more importantly, climate change. While climate change has potential impacts on the rate of energy consumption in buildings, several studies have shown that these impacts differ from one region to another. In response, this paper aimed to investigate the impact of climate change on the heating and cooling energy demands of buildings as influential variables in building energy consumption in the city of Poznan, Poland. In this sense, through the statistical downscaling method and considering the most recent Typical Meteorological Year (2004–2018) as the baseline, the future weather data for 2050 and 2080 of the city of Poznan were produced according to the HadCM3 and A2 GHG scenario. These generated files were then used to simulate the energy demands in 16 building prototypes of the ASHRAE 90.1 standard. The results indicate an average increase in cooling load and a decrease in heating load at 135% and 40%, respectively, by 2080. Due to the higher share of heating load, the total thermal load of the buildings decreased within the study period. Therefore, while the total thermal load is currently under the decrease, to avoid its rise in the future, serious measures should be taken to control the increased cooling demand and, consequently, thermal load and GHG emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to assess the energy consumption of production in selected branches of the food industry in Poland and to identify its changes after Poland's accession to the EU. This issue is particularly important in the period of energy transformation and soaring energy prices. The novelty of this article is the determination of changes in the energy efficiency of various branches of the food industry. The main source of data was mass statistics data and unpublished data from the Central Statistical Office for 2004–2020. Descriptive statistics, comparative analysis, and strategic group mapping were used in the data analysis. The research shows that the production of foodstuffs is one of the most energy-intensive processing sectors. This results, among others, from many active enterprises in this sector and a large variety of industries. Individual food-processing industries are characterized by large differences in the energy consumption of production, which determines the different levels of electricity costs and affects the competitiveness of enterprises. In 2004–2019, the average electricity consumption in the food industry in Poland decreased by 31.5%. A greater increase in the value of sold production compensated for the higher energy consumption. This indicates an improvement in production efficiency and contributes to greater environmental protection. In the food sector, simple comparative advantages disappear in the form of lower production costs. This situation encourages processing companies to look for energy savings. The research results can be useful not only in Poland but also in other countries in shaping economic policy. The energy crisis caused by the war in Ukraine may require different actions to be taken against various sectors of the food industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents the results of the analysis of parameters describing electricity consumption in individual phases of the production cycle on a poultry farm. One full broiler rearing cycle on the farm was analyzed. Electrical parameters were tested during the broiler rearing process using a power quality analyzer with a measurement interval of 1 min. During the tests, the analyzer recorded the active and reactive power, phase and line voltage, power factor, and frequency. On the basis of collected data, original indicators describing electricity consumption per chicken wkA, wkQ, and per unit area wiA, wiQ were determined. The regression curves of active and reactive power consumption in particular stages of the cycle were also determined, and the minimum and maximum values of active and reactive power consumption were determined. The accomplished research can be used in planning electricity demand in energy-self-sufficient areas. The presented original indicators can be used to determine power demand on broiler farms, depending on the planned production volume or size of farm buildings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this article is to show the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on electricity consumption and, consequently, on decisions regarding the installation of photovoltaic panels using the example of a selected local authority in Poland—the Szemud Municipality. The analysis was conducted in 2022 and covered the years 2019–2021. An attempt was made to explore the factors that may have triggered an increase in the use of solar energy in households and identify the determinants of installing photovoltaic panels in the period under analysis. Previous analyses of the PV market (and the impact of the pandemic on it) have so far focused on the market as a whole, either in macro or global terms, while studies on smaller municipalities have been limited to examining changes in electricity consumption levels during the COVID-19 pandemic and during lockdown. Therefore, a research gap was identified in that there are no studies analyzing the reasons for the shift from conventional to PV-assisted energy in households, with the COVID-19 pandemic as the background of these changes. The literature research showed that there are currently no studies attempting to establish a link between the increased interest in this type of energy by local authorities and the COVID-19 pandemic. The research confirmed the hypothesis of increased interest in household PV during the pandemic. The main conclusions of the study boil down to the need for further support as well as promotion of the use of solar energy. In addition, the results derived from the empirical research indicate the need to take action at a policy level to counter adverse trends regarding undesirable social behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Poland, electricity production is based on nonrenewable energy sources. The energy market is dominated by corporations. Rising electricity prices and threats of power shortages have become, among others, prerequisites for the development of distributed sources based on renewable sources, primarily using photovoltaic panels. The development of the renewable energy market is slow due to the lack of legal solutions and insufficient state support. Polish farmers, especially fruit growers, whose electricity consumption costs are a significant item in production costs, may become part of the energy sector by building a local energy system. In 2022, Poland introduced two new legal regulations, which currently provide three options for obtaining electricity using renewable micro-installations. The conducted study aimed at indicating which of the legally permitted option is the most advantageous for fruit farms in Poland. Growers can produce energy by being a prosumer who settles accounts in the net-metering and net-billing system and by participating in an energy cooperative. The direction of changes was ascertained by conducting a pilot study among fruit growers. The study used real quantitative and valuable data on the consumption and costs of electricity in 2012–2022 and the production of photovoltaic panels in a fruit farm in 2021. The study consisted of comparing three models of settling accounts for electricity with two comparative models in two scenarios. The analysis of prosumers' functioning showed that the situation in Poland is favorable for the development of civic energy. However, participation in an energy cooperative with new legal solutions will not always be the more advantageous solution in terms of economy and energy. In particular, the study showed that the support mechanism needs further changes. The results of the research confirm the existing potential of fruit farms, which can be developed in the area of securing energy needs. The results of this research can be used as the premise for introducing changes to the legal conditions for the establishment and operation of energy cooperatives in Poland. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents the global characteristics of the Polish manufacturing industry and the structure of its energy consumption and carbon dioxide emissions related to direct emission as a result of fuel combustion and indirect emission as a result of electricity consumption. The share of individual sectors in energy consumption and emission levels was determined, and the changes in this share over the last 20 years were determined. A method for determining the carbon productivity index for the emissions of individual industries with the use of global macroeconomic indicators was proposed. The index allows for the comparison of the productivity of individual industries, regardless of the nature of production. The change in carbon productivity in Polish industry over time was presented. On this basis, it was assessed which industries are particularly promising in terms of decarbonising the Polish industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Determining the demand for heat power for domestic hot water preparation is necessary to perform a building energy assessment. For this, we need to predict domestic hot water consumption. Considering the number of factors influencing domestic hot water consumption, it is difficult to develop a highly accurate methodology. The aim of the study was to compare the real domestic hot water consumption and heat power for its preparation with the values calculated based on the available prediction methods in multi-family buildings. The analysis was carried out based on annual monitoring (2021 year) of domestic hot water consumption and the actual demand for heat power in eight multi-family buildings located in Grudziądz, in Central Poland. The results of these measurements were compared with the values determined based on the available methodologies for forecasting the demand for heat power and domestic hot water consumption: Sander's, Recknagel's, the standard method and the method according to Polish regulations from 2008 and 2015. The real average demand for heat power for domestic hot water was 89.8 ± 8.5 W/person, 211.2 ± 13.7 W/apartment and 4.8 ± 0.3 W/m2, and the daily domestic hot water consumption was 26.7 ± 3.6 dm3/person·day, 62.6 ± 5.8 dm3/apartment·day and 1.4 ± 0.1 dm3/m2·day. The real demand for heat power for domestic hot water was lower than that determined by the analyzed methods. The values obtained from the modified standard method based on Standard PN-92/B-01706/A1: 1999, with mean relative error of 10.5 ± 4.1%, were the closest to the real values. The current ordinance method (Regulation 2015) is characterized by an error of 45.4 ± 10.2%. The predicted domestic hot water consumption using the current ordinance was the closest to the real consumption. On average, it was higher by 7.7 ± 5.0%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The capacity limitations of distribution networks, the increasing demands for electricity installation in terms of electricity quality parameters, and the development of electromobility all increase the need to implement systems in order to stabilize and regulate loads for end users. Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESSs), that operate in internal microgrids of enterprises, allow smoothing of electrical power consumption profiles by actively reducing peak demand power. By using BESSs to implement a peak shaving strategy to reduce the peak power consumption of a company in an external network, energy efficiency can be improved by reducing contractual capacity. The aim of this study is to determine the conditions for the use of energy storage, in order to implement a peak shaving strategy for which the installation of the enterprise microgrid is economically efficient. The analysis of the operating conditions of the BESS should take into account the size of the energy storage, the characteristics of the demand profile for the demand systems, the charges related to electricity, and the costs of electricity storage. In the study, the size of the energy storage was related to the power and electrical capacity of the BESS that was used to implement the peak shaving strategy. The article presents the results of research on the method for determining an effective capacity and power of BESSs for enterprise microgrid systems. The technical and cost limitations of the actual microgrid system, which affected the decrease in economic efficiency of the peak shaving strategy in the company research, were taken into account. The simulations of the operation of the electricity storage system, based on real data of the demand of production companies, were based on the rules and market conditions in Poland. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Poland, in 2021, an increase in demand for electricity was recorded, and hard coal and lignite power plants still had a dominant share in its production. Another source of electricity was renewable energy sources (RES), mainly wind farms. Young people in Poland are aware that electricity is not only its production, but also consumption in households. Therefore, it is also essential to properly educate young people, aiming at a cost-effective, sustainable lifestyle, in relation to electricity consumption. The article presents the current state of the electricity generation sector in Poland along with the proposed changes in this respect, in particular in terms of the development prospects for the use of renewable energy sources and the influence of government administration on the production and consumption of electricity. The aim of this research was to broaden the knowledge of young people's opinions on energy production and consumption. The research results can be used to create long-term directions of energy policy and to build a social attitude of sustainable energy consumption in Poland. The research was non-probabilistic, based on questionnaires, using the CAWI (Computer Assisted Web Interview) technique. The questionnaire was conducted in 2021, and the analysis was made on the basis of 741 correctly completed research questionnaires. The results of the research confirmed the research hypotheses—that the surveyed youth see the need to reduce consumption as a way to counteract climate change and excessive energy consumption. They also expect government support in the energy transformation in Poland, based on a diversified scenario, using both renewable energy sources (RES) and nuclear energy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Energy transition forcing a change in the structure of the electricity generation system is a particularly difficult task in countries such as Poland, where the dominant source of energy is fossil fuels. Due to the nature of renewable sources (stochastic and seasonally variable), it is necessary to study their impact on the power system. Much research was conducted on this subject. They consider modelling power systems in terms of dealing with an increasing amount of renewable energy sources, stabilization of electricity generation or environmental aspects. This article examines one of the key sources of future power systems—offshore wind turbines (OWT). The influence of offshore wind sources on the power system in the fields of stability of generation, methods of regulatory strategies, and economics were examined. One of the aspects that are less considered is the correlation of energy production in OWT with energy demand and with generation in other renewable energy sources, especially in the region of the southern Baltic Sea and the distribution of energy demand in countries such as Poland. The key aspect of the research is to fill this gap. The obtained results indicate that the average monthly power generation in OWT is strongly positively correlated with the demand, and the hourly average is positively correlated moderately. Correlation between generation in OWT and photovoltaic sources is very high negative, and between onshore and offshore wind turbines is highly positive. The study indicates that the OWT has a significant potential for the development and replacement of conventional sources, due to the very high capacity and a positive correlation with demand. Moreover, future offshore wind farms can cooperate with photovoltaic sources as these sources complement each other. On the other hand, a significant saturation of the system with offshore and onshore wind sources may pose a threat to the power system due to their positive correlation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An important question in the literature on climate change and sustainable development is the relationship between countries' economic growth, household electricity consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. Despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and related economic restrictions, sustainable economic growth remains at the forefront of the global development agenda. However, given the strong relationship between the ever increasing electricity consumption and greenhouse gas CO2 emissions, an increasing number of scientists have been questioning the feasibility of the planned emission reduction. In my research, I strove to determine whether there exists a relationship between the change in the structure of electricity consumption of households in selected EU Member States (15 countries), the impact of innovation, changes in electricity prices and economic growth, and CO2 emissions in 2007–2019, prior to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, and following its third wave (2021). The aim of the article is to propose a synthetic index to assess the degree of sustainable energy development (SISED) in selected EU countries. Multiobjective decision analysis (MODA) was applied in order to assess the sustainable energy development of the selected European countries. Research findings may contribute to both literature and practice if they are applied by individual EU countries in the process of formulating directions aimed at achieving sustainable energy development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The household, industrial, and service sectors in Poland and the Baltic States have been facing ever-higher bills for their electricity consumption at a time when a number of them have been hit hard financially by the pandemic. Rising inflation, the border crisis—with its set of restrictions, or the spread of the fourth wave of the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, is causing strong concerns in the social and economic sphere, with significant increases in electricity prices. Many countries are implementing measures to reduce the adverse effects of rising electricity prices in response to this complex situation. The main orientation is towards obtaining energy from renewable sources, such as the sun. The current situation in the energy market determines the price per 1 KW. Among the countries under study, the price of electricity has increased the most in Poland. On the other hand, the development of the photovoltaic segment in Poland is undergoing a strong, upward trend. The above inspired the authors to explore the energy market situation in Poland and the Baltic States in the current economic conditions, along with an analysis of its development potential in light of the coronavirus pandemic. The main research problem of this study is an attempt to answer the question of what should be changed in the development of the renewable energy market in Poland, with particular emphasis on photovoltaics, to accelerate the process of reducing CO2 emissions, leading to a reduction in dramatically rising electricity prices. Which solutions implemented in the Baltic countries can inspire strengthening Poland's energy market development? [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Access to energy, including electricity, determines countries' socio-economic development. The growing demand for electricity translates into environmental problems. Energy is therefore a crucial element of the European Union's sustainable development strategy. This article aims to present the changes taking place in the electricity market in Poland considering the goals of the energy policy until 2040. This is the basis for the determination of the scale of processes taking place in the Polish energy sector from two perspectives, i.e., the production of electricity considering its level and energy carriers used, and the consumption of electricity in households depending on their location (rural vs. urban areas). The research was conducted at the regional level (NUTS 2 until 2017) in Poland. Secondary data from the Central Statistical Office (GUS) contained in the Local Data Bank were used, along with information from the European Commission and Eurostat websites. Results of the study made it possible to identify areas in which a greater environmental load is observed due to increasing electricity consumption. The coefficient of localization and concentration (by Florence) and the rate of change were applied. These results indicate that, in Poland, it is now the rural areas that have a greater negative environmental impact than urban areas, resulting from differences in unit energy consumption. Compared to the other provinces, rural areas of Podlaskie province had the highest rate of growth in energy consumption in the years 2004–2019, with an annual average of almost 20%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Poland, the development of photovoltaic (PV) installations is an important element in the development of the Renewable Energy Sources (RES) sector and supports the prosumer power industry. The purpose of the article is to present a case study of the PROSUMENT program. It analyzes the data available to date on the development of the PV market in Poland. Apart from the costs of installing the PV systems, the article analyzes the profitability of investment for different micro-power installation capacities. A calculation for micro-power installations subsidized under the PROSUMENT program for various PV capacities is presented, along with the actual amount of the subsidy. The adopted calculation methodology is a comparative verification analysis of the investment cost estimate for a for the two studied PV facilities, i.e., Micro-power installation 1 and Micro-power installation 2. The building's annual energy demand was adopted at the same level for both examples, with fixed active energy and distribution fees. The study includes a cost estimate for installing the PV systems and the profitability of the investments for various micro-power installation capacities. The analysis of the subsidy under the PROSUMENT program demonstrated that, in the analyzed period of 2016–2020, the best results were achieved by investments with a capacity of 10 kWp. In terms of the net subsidy value, the best results ranged between 27.20 and 19.10% of the total investment costs. Development of the Polish prosumer power market requires building public awareness of prosumer power production as an opportunity for the growth of the Polish economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]