Poland’s coal generation share fell to 52.7% of total electricity production by 2025—down from 72.5% in 2021

Poland’s coal generation share fell to 52.7% of total electricity production by 2025—down from 72.5% in 2021

Poland’s coal generation share declined from 72.5% of total electricity production in 2021 to 52.7% by 2025. Renewables generated 31.4% of Poland’s electricity in 2025, while gas and onshore wind combined produced 24.4 TWh and 23.8 TWh respectively. For the first full month in June 2025, renewables generated more electricity than coal in Poland’s grid—a milestone indicating a structural shift in the power system. The country’s first offshore wind farm (Baltic Power) began grid delivery in July 2026, with its 1.2 GW capacity projected to supply 4 TWh annually by completion, representing 3% of Poland’s total electricity demand.

This transition is driven by policy mechanisms like Poland’s capacity market, which now allows high-emitting coal plants to participate in 2026 auctions under special derogation until 2028. The International Energy Agency projects Polish coal generation to fall at 11% annually through 2030, with renewables overtaking coal generation by 2028 and reaching 53% of total electricity by 2030.

Poland’s progress moves energy access toward affordability and reliability. As coal’s share drops and renewables scale, households and businesses gain more stable, cheaper electricity—critical for economic resilience and reducing fossil fuel dependence. However, the country still curtails 1.4 TWh of renewable electricity annually (double 2024 levels), and coal capacity transitions lag behind generation shifts. What matters next: whether Poland’s capacity market reforms and offshore wind deployment can overcome curtailment challenges and accelerate the grid’s transition to renewables before 2028.

Source: CleanTechnica