Poland striving for a future powered by renewables 

In April 2025, coal supplied less than half of Poland’s electricity for the first time, accounting for 49.4% of the energy mix. This milestone reflects rising renewable energy use and falling overall energy demand. Coal generation dropped nearly 19% from March, while gas power rose 44.2% YoY. Renewables produced 4.5 TWh, led by solar, which grew over 32.4% YoY and made up 42.1% of renewable output. Wind generation declined 20.5% from April 2024, still comprising 37.2% of renewable generation. This news marks a continued decline in coal reliance, with solar and gas playing increasingly significant roles in Poland’s diversifying energy landscape. (Warsaw Business Journal) 

Why does this matter? 

Poland’s energy transition is a pivotal test case for how heavily coal-dependent economies can shift toward cleaner energy while balancing economic, social, and environmental pressures. As the EU’s largest coal producer and one of the most carbon-intensive economies in Europe, Poland plays a significant role in whether the EU can meet its climate targets under the European Green Deal and Paris Agreement. It also matters for energy security in Europe, considering geopolitical tensions and efforts to reduce reliance on Russian fossil fuels. Poland’s progress could influence regional energy strategies, investment flows, and the pace of clean energy adoption in other post-industrial and emerging economies. 

As a global mining firm, Rio Tinto provides critical raw minerals for renewable energy infrastructure. Key metals include aluminium – used in solar panel frames, turbine housing and cables; copper for wiring and inverters; tellurium – for PV technology. The momentum in Poland’s green energy sector is an opportunity for Rio to meet growing demands for critical materials. 

Three recent major renewable energy projects demonstrate the growing traction of Poland’s energy transition. First – earlier this year, the Znin wind farm started operations to supply up to 77,000 households with green power. The farm consists of 16 wind turbines, each with an output capacity of 3 MW. This is an expansion of RWE’s renewables portfolio in Poland, marking their 20th onshore windfarm in the country. Second, a solar park in Recz, with an almost 29MW capacity became operational at the end of April. It is powered by close to 53,000 solar panels and will likely generate 30GWh of energy annually. Most recently, N2OFF Inc – a publicly traded agri-tech company announced on May 9 that it will finance a new Battery Energy Storage System project in Poland by funding Solterra’s new project. It is currently intended to generate 140MWh of energy, marking a significant intervention in the country’s renewable energy infrastructure. To support the country’s net zero transition, the European Commission approved a state-funded aid scheme of €1.2bn ($1.3bn) in September 2024, to help drive investment. 

However, the transition is not without challenges and will unfold unevenly across the country. Industrial regions in the southwest and centre, such as Piotrkowski and Upper Silesia, face the steepest economic disruptions due to their high concentration of coal-fired power plants and carbon-intensive industries. Though, this may be offset by benefit from targeted investments in renewable energy, supported by the EU’s Just Transition Fund. The aim is to repurpose mining sites for wind and solar power, creating new employment opportunities. Conversely, Poland’s major cities such as Warsaw, Kraków, and Wrocław are expected to thrive under climate transition scenarios due to their reliance on low-carbon service sectors such as IT, business services, and finance. These urban centres, with skilled workforces and lower emissions intensity, are projected to maintain strong economic growth and lead the nation’s shift toward a sustainable economy.  

Poland’s accelerating energy transition shows a pathway for other coal-reliant countries and signals growing demand for critical minerals that underpin renewable technologies.