he power industry is the flywheel of the economy, which influences the productivity levels of other sectors. However, Poland’s electricity system faces many challenges that prevent it from developing to its full potential. Fossil fuel-fired power plants currently form the backbone of the system, but their generating capacity will decline by about a third by 2030, while demand for energy is increasing. The stability of Poland’s transmission and distribution network is low and needs to be adjusted to accommodate the high share of distributed energy sources. In parallel, advancing regulations at the European Union level will increase the cost of generating energy from carbon-intensive sources.

Will Poland seize its opportunity and unlock dynamic economic development based on productivity growth, or will further delays in the energy transition prove detrimental to Polish competitiveness? The latest McKinsey & Company report, titled “Lifting Poland’s Ambition. On the cusp of a new era?” outlines key tasks, the implementation of which could help keep Poland’s energy system on a growth trajectory. The key findings of the report serve as the building blocks for a panel discussion on the future of Poland’s energy sector.