ECONOMIC AND LEGAL ASPECTS OF RENEWABLE ENERGY PRODUCTION IN POLAND.

Production of energy in Poland is still based on traditional energy sources, such as: hard and brown coal. However, depletion of fossil fuel resources and the problem of excessive emission of carbon dioxide cause that the interest in renewable energy sources (RES) grows. In the recent years awareness of environmental damage caused by conventional energy has increased and a membership in the European Union was an additional stimulus for restructuring of the Polish energy sector. Therefore, the concept of renewable energy sources, namely, solar, wind, hydro, geothermal and biomass energy has gained recognition in the Polish energy policy and environmental protection strategy. The frameworks of the EU climate and energy policy for subsequent years determined in 2014 assume further limitation of greenhouse gases emission by 40% in comparison to 1990 and the increase of participation of energy from renewable sources to the level of at least 27% in the total consumption in the perspective of 2030. In the case of Poland, the assumed participation of energy from the RES following the mentioned directive will amount to at least 15% in 2020. The agricultural sector is not only an emitter of greenhouse gases and energy consumer but at the same time has a potential to generate renewable energy. The report prepared for the ministry of economy shows that agriculture in Poland is an economy sector, which produced more energy from the RES than it uses, and at the same time has a considerable impact on realization of objectives of climate and energy policy. Taking into consideration the importance of the issue concerning energy production and its impact on the natural environment, the main aim of the article was to present legal aspects of production of renewable energy in Poland. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]