Improving Energy Efficiency Holds Huge Potential

Poland is making significant strides in energy efficiency, with the National Fund for Environmental Protection and Gospodarki Wodnej (NFOŚiGW) spearheading crucial funding initiatives. Andrzej Domański, a minister who spoke at the European Economic Congress, emphasized energy as a top priority, underscoring that substantial financial backing is essential for transformative changes.

The NFOŚiGW boasts a record budget of 37 billion PLN for 2026, drawing from sources like the Modernization Fund and the National Recovery Plan. This substantial funding will fuel ambitious programs, including over 5 billion PLN for energy efficiency and renewable energy sources in hospitals, and more than 2 billion PLN for the thermal modernization and energy efficiency of schools. Additionally, a program will be launched in the latter half of the year to improve the energy efficiency of multi-family buildings in rural areas, often former state agricultural farms (PGR), where significant potential for improvement exists.

For entrepreneurs, the focus is twofold: improving energy efficiency within their operations and transitioning to low-emission energy sources. This includes adopting modern technological solutions, enhancing insulation, and upgrading to energy-efficient windows in construction, while the steel sector, for example, requires improvements in both industrial processes and building efficiency. The NFOŚiGW is also actively supporting the development of energy storage, with programs for both large-scale and household energy storage systems, aiming to store energy when production is cheapest. This comprehensive approach reflects Poland's commitment to a sustainable energy future.