Dispatch from Poland | March '26

Iran war's impact on Poland - The Polish energy ministry and key infrastructure operators PERN and GAZ-SYSTEM said Poland’s immediate energy security is not at risk as a result of the war on Iran and in the wider western Asian region, and that supplies continue without disruption. In 2024, Poland imported most of its crude oil from Saudi Arabia (50.7%), Norway (31.2%), and the United States (7.9%), while LNG deliveries through the port in Świnoujście in 2025 came mainly from the US (about 76%) and Qatar (20%). Although oil from Saudi Arabia can bypass the Strait of Hormuz via alternative routes, LNG supplies from Qatar cannot, and Iranian attacks have already disrupted regional energy infrastructure. However, Poland has safeguards in place, including gas storage facilities that are more than 50 percent full, enough to cover roughly 40 days of demand as consumption drops thanks to the warmer weather. Despite these assurances, the uncertainty surrounding the crisis has prompted opposition parties, particularly Law and Justice (PiS), to warn that Poland could face energy shortages due to what they describe as the government’s inadequate response to the conflict. Prime Minister Donald Tusk strongly rejected these claims, accusing the opposition of “attempting to destabilise the situation” in Poland.

Bill to end “zombie” projects - The Sejm, the lower but more powerful chamber of the Polish Parliament, has approved a bill targeting so-called “zombie” projects, investments that secure grid connection only to sell it later, thereby blocking capacity. The bill shortens connection validity from two years to one and increases fees. While the industry generally supports the measures, it says the new rules should not apply to ongoing projects. Poland’s power grid operator PSE backed the bill, saying the current rules hinder renewable energy development. The ruling coalition passed the bill while opposition parties were voting against it, and it now goes to the Senate. If approved, it will be sent to opposition-aligned president Karol Nawrocki, who can sign it, veto it, or refer it to the Constitutional Tribunal. 

Clean capacity - At the end of 2025, renewables accounted for over half of Poland’s installed electricity capacity for the first time, announced Poland’s climate ministry. Solar and wind account for most of this capacity, and later this year Poland will launch its first offshore wind farm, Baltic Power. However, coal still provides just over half of Poland’s actual electricity generation, maintaining Poland’s status as the most coal-dependent country in the EU. Meanwhile, renewables - mostly solar and wind - make up just over 29 percent of Poland’s electricity generation.

Clean transport - The city of Kraków was within its legal rights to introduce a Clean Transport Zone to protect residents’ health, a court has ruled. In a recently published justification of the ruling, the judges said the restrictions on older, more polluting cars are lawful and justified due to Kraków’s severe air pollution. Politicians from the opposition Law and Justice (PiS) announced they will continue efforts to overturn the policy. Kraków, Poland’s second-biggest city, introduced the new restrictions on 1 January 2026. 

Nuclear - Poland’s Supreme Administrative Court has rejected a complaint by environmental group Bałtyckie-SOS against the construction of the country’s first nuclear power plant, allowing the project to proceed. The group claimed authorities failed to properly assess evidence, ensure adequate public consultation, and examine potential Baltic Sea pollution, but the court dismissed those arguments. The planned 3.75 gigawatt (GW) nuclear plant, expected to launch in the late 2030s, is a key element of Poland’s shift away from fossil fuels toward more climate-friendly energy.

Record winter for Polish energy system - The Polish energy system saw several records this winter, one of the coldest in recent years, including its highest-ever daily gas exports of 13.9 million cubic metres, mostly sent to Ukraine to help amid its winter energy crisis. The surge highlights Poland’s growing role as a gas hub, supported by LNG imports, pipeline gas from Norway, and some domestic production. Other records included historic peaks in domestic gas consumption and power generation during freezing temperatures.

EU’s last hard coal miner - As of February 2026, Poland officially became the last European Union country still mining hard coal, after the Czech Republic closed its final remaining mine following decades of declining production and rising costs. Despite long-term declines and growing uncompetitiveness, Poland’s hard coal industry continues, largely thanks to heavy state subsidies and strong trade union influence.

The Wall Street Journal released a fascinating short documentary on how Poland is protecting its power grid amid the threat of war in Ukraine, collaborating with the military to secure it. I’ve long seen the grid as central to the energy transition but difficult to tell as a story, but WSJ journalist Louisa Naks proved otherwise, which is why I invited her on to my podcast to discuss reporting from Poland’s energy frontline.

The discussion around the clean energy transition has, in recent years, shifted from being framed solely as a response to climate change to being seen as essential for keeping Europe’s industry competitive. Forum Energii, an energy think tank, explores this in depth in its recent report, detailing what electrifying Poland’s industrial sector - which accounts for 23 percent of the country’s GDP - could entail, including potential challenges and costs.