Decarbonisation of the Polish residential sector between the 1990s and 2021: A case study of policy failures

In this paper, we study the policies that regulated the energy mix in the Polish residential sector between 1990 and 2021. We apply a qualitative assessment of policies and difference-in-differences to evaluate the effects of particular regulations. We find that policymakers in Poland did not identify households as stakeholders in their strategies since starting the energy transformation back in the 1990s until the early 2020s. We demonstrate that the government policies failed to stimulate efficient decarbonisation of the residential sector and did not address such issues as energy poverty and air pollution, while the coal consumption rates by Polish households remained the highest in the European Union. The situation has started to change since 2017 when the first regions in Poland introduced anti-smog regulations, which have had a minor, yet positive effect on air quality and the decrease in the number of coal stoves. Furthermore, Clean air and My electricity programmes were introduced in 2018 and 2019, which provided subsidies for investments in clean heating technologies, and small-scale photovoltaics. These support instruments have yielded relatively positive results. Finally, the Polish energy policy of 2021 identified decarbonisation in the residential sector, reducing energy poverty and improving air quality as key priorities.

Automated summary

This paper examines the energy mix policies in the Polish residential sector from 1990 to 2021. The study finds that policymakers in Poland initially overlooked the interests of households, resulting in high coal consumption rates. However, recent anti-smog regulations and clean air programs have shown some positive effects. The 2021 energy policy now prioritizes decarbonization, reducing energy poverty, and improving air quality in the residential sector.