Forum Energii Recap: February - June 2026

Internal Opposition Shifts
Political dynamics within the Law and Justice (Prawo i Sprawiedliwość / PiS) party remain volatile. Mateusz Morawiecki (former Prime Minister of Poland from 2017 to 2023) recently launched the Development Plus (Growth Plus) Association, a policy-oriented political initiative linked to the Law and Justice (PiS) camp. 

Przemysław Czarnek (PiS politician and candidate for Prime Minister) popularised the dismissive slogan “OZE-sroze” (roughly translatable as “renewables-schmrenewables”), using it to criticise renewable energy policies and the EU Green Deal. The phrase quickly became a symbol of the political divide over Poland’s energy transition. 

Nawrocki’s Climate Referendum Proposal 
President Karol Nawrocki proposed a nationwide referendum on the EU’s climate policy (the Green Deal). He argues that current EU climate measures have increased energy prices and the cost of living for households, businesses, and farmers. The referendum was presented as a way to give Polish citizens a direct voice on climate and energy policy. The proposed referendum question asked whether citizens support the implementation of EU climate policy, which, according to the proposal, has led to higher living costs, energy prices, and business and agricultural expenses. The Senate rejected the request for a referendum because the question contained a value judgement. 

Commentators argued that the wording of the proposed referendum question was leading and framed the EU climate policy exclusively through its costs, while omitting the costs of inaction and the benefits of the energy transition.

Growing wave of disinformation and scepticism towards climate policy and the energy transition is emerging. These issues may become a prominent theme in next year’s election campaign, making evidence-based public debate more important than ever. 

Heartland Institute Expands into Central Europe
The Heartland Institute opened a new office in Warsaw. The U.S.-based organization, known for its climate-sceptic positions, plans to take part in regional debates on energy and climate policy. The initiative is backed by conservative political networks and could become a platform for lobbying against ambitious EU climate policies. This underscores Poland’s growing role in European energy and climate debates and reflects the increasing professionalization of anti-transition actors. With parliamentary elections scheduled for autumn 2027, these voices may become more influential in shaping the public discussion.

The energy crisis and growing geopolitical tensions in the Persian Gulf have reinforced the relevance of Forum Energii’s arguments on energy transition and energy security. Policymakers across the government are increasingly drawing on narratives and recommendations that Forum Energii has been advancing for years. 

A historic first for Poland's offshore wind sector (10.07.2026) 
Today, electricity from Poland's first offshore wind turbines officially started flowing into the national grid. Developed by ORLEN and Northland Power, Baltic Power is a 1.2 GW offshore wind project located approximately 23 km off Poland's Baltic coast. Once fully commissioned later this year, it will comprise 76 offshore wind turbines, generate around 4 TWh of zero-carbon electricity annually—roughly 3% of Poland's current electricity demand, and supply enough clean power for more than 1.5 million households. Beyond its scale, the project marks the beginning of a new era for Poland's energy system. Offshore wind is expected to become one of the country's key sources of domestic, low-carbon electricity, strengthening energy security while reducing dependence on imported fossil fuels. Poland aims to install 5.9 GW of offshore wind capacity by 2030, making Baltic Power the first of several large-scale projects planned for the Baltic Sea.

Draft District Heating Strategy to 2040  (06.2026)                                         
The Ministry of Energy finally shared the long-awaited draft of the "District Heating Transformation Strategy until 2040."Public consultations are open until July 15, and the government plans to officially adopt it in early 2027. Taking a strategic, long-term look at the EU's second-largest heating market is definitely a step in the right direction, rather than just treating it as a series of short-term tariff or emergency crises. It is also great to see that the draft includes many ideas and pathways that we at Forum Energii have been pushing for over the last few years.

The draft wisely avoids simply replacing coal with gas. Instead, it focuses on a diverse mix of clean technologies—like renewables, heat storage, heat pumps, and waste heat. Of course, a strategy is only as good as its execution. What we need now is to turn these guidelines into real laws, stable funding programs, and practical local energy plans. If we get this right, we can secure stable prices, a much more resilient energy system, and a real boost for our domestic industry.

Poland adopts updated National Energy and Climate Plan: NECP (06.2026)
The Polish government has officially adopted the updated National Energy and Climate Plan (KPEiK in pl.), establishing a long-awaited framework for the country’s energy transition up to 2030. Under the active transition scenario (WAM), the plan outlines several key targets:
>> Renewable Energy: Achieving a 32.6% share of renewables in gross final energy consumption by 2030, with RES projected to generate approximately 56% of Poland's electricity.
>> Coal Reduction: Decreasing the share of coal in power generation to approximately 22% by 2030.
>> Emissions Reduction: Cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 50.4% compared to 1990 levels.
>> Energy Efficiency: Reducing primary energy consumption by nearly 12.5% compared to the 2020 reference scenario projections.
>> Infrastructure & Electrification: Accelerating grid modernisation, scaling up energy storage, and advancing the electrification of transport and heating.

Forum Energii has been actively engaged in this process, consistently emphasizing the need for a clear, ambitious, and realistic roadmap to guide public and private investment. Our commentary on the NECP outlines the key challenges and necessary steps for the effective implementation of the plan. Additionally, our comprehensive energy system modeling report, Time for investment: Lessons from modeling Poland's energy system until 2040, highlights that to ensure security and competitiveness, Poland’s power system will require significant mobilization.

Grid Connection Reform (04.2026)
The President has signed a long-awaited reform to address electricity grid bottlenecks and accelerate renewable energy investments. The new law introduces stricter requirements for developers, such as mandatory project "milestones" and reduced permit validity, to eliminate "zombie projects" clogging the network. This is a big win for Forum Enegrii work and further development of renewable energy projects. 

After a decade of intensive work producing analyses and reports, the time came to pause and reflect on our journey so far. On June 23, in the unique setting of the Warsaw Gasworks Museum, we celebrated the 10th anniversary of Forum Energii. The atmospheric venue brought together over 250 guests—including representatives of the government and parliament, energy sector leaders, journalists, as well as friends and employees of Forum Energii. Half-jokingly, it was said that if the collective energy of everyone present were connected directly to the grid, the country's power supply would be secured for an entire week!

It was a solemn yet warm evening, filled with cordial conversations. We are proud to have hosted such a distinguished group, led by the Minister of Climate and Environment Paulina Hennig-Kloska, Minister of Energy Miłosz Motyka, and honorary guests—former Prime Minister Jerzy Buzek and Professor Maciej Nowicki.

When we started in 2015, our goal was to build a space for substantive dialogue across divisions. Today, the direction of the Polish transition is already set. A symbol of this shared path is a commemorative poster we prepared, reminding us that we are all part of this change.

However, the celebrations did not end with the evening's conversations. The very next day, on June 24, we organized the international conference "Energize EU. 2026 Energy Security Outlook", that was a timely opportunity to reflect on Poland’s and Forum’s achievements in modernising and strengthening the energy system. The event coincided with the submission of Poland’s 2030/2040 NECP and growing attention to energy security and resilience driven by geopolitical tensions affecting fossil fuel markets.

Statements by ministers responsible for energy, climate and environment, economy, and finance, together with remarks by Dan Jørgensen, European Commissioner for Energy and Housing, presented the energy transition as the key strategy for protecting Poland and Europe from geopolitical and price shocks. Poland was portrayed as determined not to wait for global developments but to actively strengthen the EU’s competitiveness and resilience while maintaining public support for the transition to cleaner, domestic energy sources.

Electrification also featured prominently, both in the high-level speeches and in a dedicated panel discussion involving Polish stakeholders.

In response to the European Commission’s “AccelerateEU” communication on reducing fossil fuel dependence, Forum Energii is increasing its analytical focus on the industrial sector. We aim to contribute to the public debate on the energy transition in heavy industry, highlighting how clean energy can strengthen economic security and competitiveness in Poland and Europe.

We published 3 major pieces and had different political and sectoral meetings and op-eds.:

The findings of the report were presented during a high-level roundtable discussion, Clean Industry and a Competitive Economy, organised with Polityka Insight (policy and economic intelligence platform, providing analysis and insights on public policy, business and economic developments). Participants included representatives of the Ministry of Climate and Environment, Bank Gospodarstwa Krajowego, the Industrial Development Agency (ARP), state-owned enterprises, Poland's state development bank, the private sector, and non-governmental organisations.

In addition, we have launched a dedicated four-part podcast series with Polityka Insight titled “Clean Technologies.”

We published a comprehensive assessment of Poland’s capacity market, nearly a decade after its introduction.

The report estimates that total costs of the mechanism will reach approximately PLN 200 billion over the period 2021–2046. It also revisits the original objectives of the mechanism—from ensuring generation adequacy to maintaining system reliability—and places them in today’s context of rapidly changing power systems.

Drawing on our long-standing technical expertise in system flexibility, Forum Energii has focused on ensuring that new capacity procured through the capacity market is better aligned with the needs of renewable energy integration. Our ongoing analysis aims to support investments that strengthen a flexible power system, prioritise non-fossil flexibility, and minimise the expansion of fossil gas infrastructure.

The publication was followed by:

Forum Energii continued its  activities on the topic of the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) , highlighting the rationale behind CBAM such as protecting EU industry from carbon leakage—and the controversies surrounding its implementation, including its role in ongoing trade negotiations.

We organized a closed-door roundtable dedicated to Poland–China relations in the context of the energy transition.

The discussion focused on:

The session brought together a diverse group of stakeholders and provided a structured setting for in-depth exchange on a complex and sensitive topic.

At a critical moment for discussions on the next Multiannual Financial Framework (2028–2034), we published To be or not to be continued? Analysis of the Just Transition Fund implementation across six EU countries, prepared in cooperation with CEE Bankwatch Network. The report assesses the implementation of the Just Transition Fund (JTF) across six EU member states and contributes to the debate on the future of EU support for regions undergoing the energy transition.

The publication builds on Forum Energii’s broader work on the future EU budget. Earlier this year, we also released an analysis of the upcoming Multiannual Financial Framework, examining changing EU spending priorities and their implications for climate and energy policy.

The findings of the joint report were presented during the When Regions Transform: Policy Recommendations for the Just Transition conference organised by Bankwatch in Brussels in April. The event brought together representatives of local, national and EU institutions to discuss support for transition regions in the context of negotiations on the next EU budget.

In the report Safer and Cheaper: District Heating for Power System Stability (only in Polish), we analyze how the heating sector can support balancing in a system with a growing share of variable renewable energy.

The report presents both system-level and economic perspectives, comparing flexible operation of district heating with traditional models.

Key findings and recommendations were discussed during a webinar attended by nearly 200 participants, including representatives of utilities, administration, and industry.

Our report Molecules of Independence explores the role of biomethane in strengthening Poland’s energy security, supported by a detailed macroeconomic analysis of the sector.

The topic was also addressed at the parliamentary level during a session of the Parliamentary Group on Energy and Hydrogen (January 22) and further discussed at industry conferences, where Forum Energii experts presented the report’s conclusions and recommendations.

In May, Forum Energii signed two Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs), as a key element of our new strategy: engaging new target audiences and building strategic partnerships, and international cooperation.

On 28 May, Forum Energii signed a cooperation agreement with Pracodawcy RP (Employers of Poland), the country’s oldest and one of its largest employers’ organizations, representing employers from key sectors of the economy. This non-profit partnership focuses on substantive cooperation in the fields of energy, industry, and district heating, aiming to strengthen public debate and support national decision-making through the exchange of knowledge and expertise. As part of the agreement, Forum Energii will participate in the Energy Platform of Employers of Poland and its thematic working groups, contributing independent expertise and analytical input.

On 21 May, Forum Energii signed a cooperation agreement with Ukrainian partners to strengthen research, education, and expert collaboration in the energy sector. The partnership brings together Forum Energii, the Institute of Environmental Protection, AGH University of Science and Technology, and Kyiv-Mohyla Academy through the newly established Kyiv Energy and Climate Lab (KECLab). The initiative aims to develop analytical tools, energy system modelling capabilities, and expert networks supporting Ukraine’s energy transition and reconstruction.

The agreement was signed during a Polish business mission to Kyiv, led by Minister of Finance and Economy Andrzej Domański, focused on energy security and transformation. Beyond knowledge exchange, the cooperation strengthens Poland’s role in supporting Ukraine’s integration with European energy and climate policy frameworks.

Forum Energii hosted the third LeadAir Cooperation Forum (May 2026) bringing together local government representatives, experts, and public institutions to discuss the future of energy advisory services and systemic solutions for improving air quality. Participants exchanged experiences on innovative local initiatives, including heat pump lending schemes, senior cohousing projects, and inter-institutional cooperation models. 

The event was attended by representatives of the Ministry of Climate and Environment, the Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Policy, the National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management (NFOŚiGW), the Mazovian Marshal’s Office, as well as experts from research institutes, civil society organizations, and municipalities across Poland.

The European Economic Congress (April, Katowice, Poland) one of the largest economic events in Central Europe, through panel discussions and expert exchanges on climate, energy and industrial policy.

Planning Europe’s Energy Infrastructure – Unlocking Benefits through Deeper Cooperation and Cross-Sectoral Assessment (March 23, Brussels). During the session, Marcin Dusiło presented our work on industrial electrification and its implications for energy infrastructure planning, placing the Polish system in a broader European context.

Forum Energii was also engaged in expert discussions on the future engargement of the EU. At the workshop The EU Accession of Ukraine – Climate & Energy at the European University Institute in Florence (March 18), our team (Joanna Pandera, Danylo Moiseienko) contributed to conversations on aligning Ukraine’s energy and climate policies with EU frameworks.

In parallel, we continued to develop cooperation under the Green Deal Ukraine initiative. In April, representatives of Forum Energii met with academic and research partners, including AGH University in Kraków and Ukrainian and German institutions, to explore opportunities for collaboration in research, education, and policy development related to energy transition.

At the 5th Ukraine Recovery Conference (URC2026) in Gdańsk, energy resilience took centre stage as a key principle for rebuilding Ukraine’s energy system based on decentralisation, renewables, and closer integration with the EU. As part of our European Programme, Forum Energii actively contributed to the conference: Joanna Pandera moderated two discussions, while Katarzyna Harpak and Danylo Moiseienko represented Forum Energii in expert panels and the Green Deal Ukraїna Advisory Board, sharing expertise on energy resilience and supporting Ukraine’s green recovery.

The period from February to April 2026 also brought several important developments within Forum Energii, strengthening both our governance and expert capacity.

On February 1, 2026, Lidia Kołucka joined the Supervisory Board of Forum Energii. Her appointment marks an important reinforcement of the organization’s governance structure. Lidia brings extensive experience in energy policy and institutional leadership, including her previous role as Vice President of Forum Energii, where she contributed to shaping the organization’s strategic direction and development over more than two years. Her return in a supervisory capacity ensures continuity of expertise combined with an external perspective on the organization’s long-term priorities.

Katarzyna Harpak joined Forum Energii as Director of the European Program, bringing over a decade of experience in energy transition, climate policy, and energy market analysis across Poland and Central and Eastern Europe. Her expertise strengthens our capacity to engage in EU-level policy debates and to connect national perspectives with broader European dynamics.

The recognition highlights her long-standing contribution to the public debate on just transition, with a particular focus on the social and regional dimensions of energy transformation. Her work continues to emphasize that energy transition is not only about technologies and megawatts, but also about people, local economies, and social dialogue.