Poland is taking over the Presidency of the Council of the European Union (EU) on 1 January 2025 at a challenging time. China's strategy to become the global cleantech monopoly and the likelihood of high US tariffs on Chinese goods put Europe's industrial base at risk, particularly in strategic industries like batteries, wind turbines, and heat pumps. The EU’s high dependence on imported gas, oil, and coal keeps businesses and households vulnerable to volatility in international energy markets and undermines the bloc’s energy security.
In recent years, Poland has engaged in major net-zero economic transformations. It boosted solar and heat pump deployment in 2022, broke into offshore wind in 2024, and is relaunching onshore wind deployment—all key pillars of national energy security.
In new its report "Poland, a strategic cleantech hub for Europe," Strategic Perspectives provides insights into Poland's position to shape a European response to the upcoming challenges.
Highlights from the report:
- Poland produces 60% of all lithium-ion batteries in Europe, ranking second globally after China;
- 21% of Poland’s electricity mix came from wind and solar in 2023, compared to 16% in 2022;
- Poland is the EU’s second-largest solar employer with 113,780 workers employed in solar photovoltaics (PV) in 2023;
- Net-zero transition attracted over $14 billion in investments in 2023, a 30% rise from the previous year.
Priorities for the Polish Presidency
When it assumes the Presidency of the Council of the European Union on 1 January, Poland can lead the EU in addressing global competition, economic dependencies, and energy security vulnerabilities. Poland has an opportunity to align domestic priorities with broader European strategy and reinforce its position as a cleantech powerhouse by:
- Unlocking strategic investments: Lead negotiations on the EU Competitiveness Fund to bridge the investment gap and support net-zero industries and the decarbonisation of energy-intensive industries.
- Strengthening the Clean Industrial Deal: Advocate for measures such as sustainability standards in public procurement and an EU value-chain bonus to stimulate innovation and competitiveness.
- Advancing energy security: Champion the phase-out of Russian fossil fuel imports before 2027 and support the EU Electrification Plan to drive demand for net-zero technologies.
Poland’s Presidency presents an opportunity for the EU to tackle economic and energy challenges with ambition and clarity. Read the report for insights into Poland’s strategic role and the actions needed to secure Europe’s net-zero future.
