Poland has crossed a major clean energy milestone, with renewables generating more electricity than coal for the first time in June 2025. Renewable sources like solar and wind contributed 44.1% of the country’s electricity, slightly ahead of coal at 43.7%. This marks a dramatic shift from the previous year when coal still dominated at 56%. Poland’s installed solar capacity has grown to nearly 22 gigawatts, and new investments—backed by EU recovery funds and green bonds—have helped expand the power grid and support offshore wind development.
Despite this progress, Poland’s energy transition still faces challenges. The national power grid is under strain, leading to wasted renewable output due to lack of storage and limited transmission capacity. Coal plants continue to operate with government subsidies, and onshore wind expansion is still restricted by local regulations, despite recent reforms. Although Poland plans to phase out coal by 2049, market and EU pressures may force earlier closures. Ensuring a fair transition will require focused efforts to retrain workers and support communities that rely on coal for jobs and local economies. More