Program

Day I, 7th November 2024

9:00 – 9:10 Opening of the conference

9:10 – 9:20 Introduction – speech by the Chairman of the Program Council

• Leszek Juchniewicz, President of Polskie Elektrownie Jądrowe (Polish Nuclear Power Plants), Chairman of the Program Council of EuroPOWER & OZE POWER

9:20 – 10:00 Presentation by Government Representative

• Dariusz Standerski, Secretary of State, Ministry of Digitalisation

10:00 – 10:15 Keynote Speech

• Poland’s demographic situation – a diagnosis of the state, the processes we face and the future of human resources in the energy industry

INAUGURAL BLOCK

10:15 – 11:15 part 1 – Energy transformation – Electrical Power Engineering

Energy transition is one of the most critical challenges facing Poland in the coming decades. In the face of global climate change and increasing pressure to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, it is essential to transform the energy sector toward sustainable and renewable energy sources. This process involves many aspects, including technological, economic, social and political. In this inaugural debate, we would like to discuss the key challenges and opportunities of Poland’s energy transition and provide directions for future action. The debate aims not only to diagnose the current situation but also to develop specific recommendations and strategies that can accelerate the energy transition process in Poland. Cooperation among all stakeholders, including government, the private sector, NGOs and the public, is key to achieving sustainable energy development goals.

Inaugural debate pt.1

• Evaluation of the current energy mix
• Review of Poland’s international obligations to reduce CO2 emissions
• The impact of EU climate policy on the Polish energy sector
• Poland’s long-term climate goals and their implementation
• The role of government and local governments in promoting the energy transition
• Evaluation of existing regulations and the need for new legislative solutions
• Public-private partnership in the implementation of energy projects
• Digitization without cybersecurity as the biggest present threat in the transformation process
• Ensuring power reserves at a safe level – what are the risks of the power gap?
• Electricity prices and competitiveness
• RED III implementation

INAUGURAL BLOCK

11:15 – 12:15 part 2 – Energy transition – Gas and fuels

The gas and oil sector plays a key role in the Polish economy, being both the foundation of many industries and a significant consumer of energy. In the face of dynamic changes in the global energy market, rising commodity prices, and the challenges of climate policy, Poland is facing the need to rethink its strategy for managing these sectors. The inaugural debate aims to discuss the current problems and challenges facing these key areas of the economy and identify possible courses of action.

Inaugural debate pt.2

• Gas supply stability in the context of global and regional political tensions
• Potential of domestic gas resources and development of LNG infrastructure
• Fuel prices and their impact on the economy
• New technologies in the extraction, processing and storage of gas and fuels
• The role of digitisation and smart solutions in energy management
• The role of smart metering in gas distribution

12:15 – 12:35 Break

BLOCK: COOPERATION FOR SECURITY: THE ROLE OF THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTORS IN ENERGY CYBERSECURITY

In the era of digitisation and emerging information technologies, the energy sector is becoming increasingly vulnerable to cyber threats. Critical infrastructure, including power grids, energy management systems and smart grid devices, are potential targets for cyber attacks that can lead to major energy supply disruptions and threaten national security. In the debate, we would like to discuss current issues related to energy cyber security in Poland, identify key challenges and develop effective protection strategies.

12:35 – 12:45 title TBC

Presentation

• IFS representative

12:45 – 12:55 Introduction to the panel

• Maciej Wyczesany, President of the Management Board, General Director, Apator

12:55 – 13:35 Cooperation for security: the role of the public and private sectors in energy cybersecurity

Debate

• Assessing the vulnerability of energy infrastructure to cyber threats
• Examples of recent cyber incidents in the energy industry worldwide and in Poland
• Using artificial intelligence and machine learning in threat detection
• The role of blockchain in securing energy transactions
• Importance of cross-sectoral cooperation and information exchange between power grid operators, IT companies, and government institutions
• Security of critical infrastructure, including IoT devices, versus legal regulations and security standards such as NIS (Network and Information Systems Directive)
• Importance of local content for long-term technological sovereignty
• Security and use of information technology in the organization
• Is smart metering safe?

13:35 – 13:50 Big Data trends: Where do the rising costs of data processing come from and how do we combat them?

• Adam Szymański, CTO, Oxla

13:50 – 14:00 NIS2 and AI Act in the energy industry – new obligations for suppliers and users of IT systems

• Piotr Klamka, Radca prawny, Klamka Legal

RES BLOCK

Renewable energy sources play a key role in Poland’s energy transition, supporting the goals of reducing CO2 emissions, improving air quality and increasing energy independence. Despite the dynamic development of RES technologies, Poland still faces many challenges that inhibit the full realisation of renewable energy potential. Each part of the block aims to identify the main problems in the RES market and to develop strategies that can support the further development of RES.

14:00 – 14:45 part 1 Energy storage – the key to the future development of the photovoltaic sector

Debate

• Energy storage facilities as a partial solution to the power gap problem
• Overview of available subsidy programs and preferential loans for photovoltaic investments
• Challenges of managing solar overproduction. Need to upgrade transmission and distribution infrastructure
• Regulatory environment and investment processes – where are we?
• Managing energy from surplus
• What’s next for energy prosumers? Cyber security and further development of the system
• Virtual power plant (VPP)

14:45 – 15:15 Break

15:15 – 16:00 Part 2 Wind farms in Poland: from regulation to practice – how to overcome barriers and increase production?

Debate

• Analysis of wind energy development and production trends and identification of major challenges
• Increasing the level of transparency in the process of granting conditions for the connection of sources to the grid in the context of the exponential increase in refusals
• Energy storage facilities for wind power
• Problems with local acceptance of onshore and offshore wind farms
• Location and distance issues – barriers to actual wind power development

16:00 – 16:40 Part 3 Biogas and Biomethane in Poland: Current Situation and Development Prospects

 

Debate

• Overview of the current situation of the biogas and biomethane sector in Poland
• Analysis of current legal regulations on the production and use of biogas and biomethane
• Support policies and subsidy programs for biogas investments
• Challenges in building and upgrading infrastructure for biogas and biomethane production and distribution
• Innovative technologies in biogas and biomethane production and their implementation in Poland
• Scenarios for the development of the biogas and biomethane sector in Poland until 2030 and 2050
• Biogas in transportation

BLOCK ENERGY TRANSITION COSTS FOR POLISH INDUSTRY: CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES

 

Industrial energy plays a key role in shaping the economy’s competitiveness and sustainability. Given global climate change and the growing demand for energy, Poland faces numerous challenges related to energy transition, including improving energy efficiency, reducing CO2 emissions, and integrating renewable energy sources.

16:40 – 17:25 Energy transition costs for Polish industry: challenges and opportunities

Debate

• Investment in energy efficiency and its importance for industrial competitiveness
• Gains for industrial companies and the economy from switching production from handling fossil fuels to handling RES and carbon-free sources
• Future technologies and their potential impact on the development of electromobility in Poland
• Industry 5.0 as a development of Industry 4.0 technologies – are we ready yet?
• How can the integration of ESG into business strategy affect a company’s market value? Lowering the cost of capital and attracting investors interested in sustainable development
• Identification of the main obstacles to implementing ESG strategies in the industry, including lack of adequate regulation, limited financial resources, and technological challenges
• Greenwashing – the dark side of ESG, risks, consequences, penalties
• The role of AI in industry – is there room and potential for it?

17:25 Lunch