Energy Transition: Germany and Poland under tension

On 22 November 2023, rbb held a panel discussion on German-Polish energy policy cooperation at the Brandenburg State Centre for Political Education in Potsdam as part of the 'Understanding Poland' series. Accepting the invitation, Dena Managing Director Kristina Haverkamp spoke about the opportunities of bilateral cross-border cooperation for accelerating the energy transition in both countries. She also presented the German-Polish Energy Platform, which Dena has been coordinating with the Polish Energy Saving Agency (KAPE) on behalf of the German Federal Foreign Office since 2021.

During the discussion with Monika Morawiecka (expert for Central and Eastern Europe at the international organisation Regulatory Assistance Project (RAP)), Hendrik Fischer (State Secretary in the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Labour and Energy of the State of Brandenburg) and Adam Traczyk (Director of the think tank More in Common Polska), it became clear that German-Polish relations are thriving. Bilateral cooperation is likely to intensify further under a new Polish government.

It also became clear that Poland and Germany are focusing on expanding renewable energy sources. Poland intends to ensure that its transmission grids can accommodate 50% renewable electricity by 2030. The discussion also recognised Germany's pioneering role in the energy transition, which has led to price reductions and made the current solar boom in Poland possible.

However, there were differences regarding Poland's planned entry into nuclear energy. This point of friction in the energy policy orientation of both countries will persist under the Tusk government and require mutual understanding.

In this context, Kristina Haverkamp emphasised the importance of continuous bilateral dialogue. The German-Polish Energy Transition Forum, a bilateral dialogue platform which will take place in Berlin next spring after a successful launch in Warsaw in April 2023, plays an important role here. Further information will be published here shortly.

A summary of the discussion is available online at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P4-mr21LXso