Polish energy company Tauron looks to greener sources

State-run Polish energy company Tauron has announced changes to the group’s strategy to 2025 and is now planning on increasing the share of low- and zero-emission sources in the Tauron production mix to over 65 per cent.

“The introduction of new options to the group’s strategy will be the basis for the safe and sustainable transformation of Tauron and will increase the investment potential for the development of renewable energy sources,” said Filip Grzegorczyk, president of the Tauron management board.

“The updated strategic directions include changes in the market and regulatory environment, primarily the creation of a dual-energy energy market in Poland, the reduction of support for conventional energy after 2025, due to the increase in prices of CO2 emission allowances,” Mr Grzegorczyk added.

As part of the new strategic direction, Tauron announced that it is considering the sale of one of its three coal mines.

“[Tauron] will conduct market verification of the possibilities of optimising the portfolio of capital investments and limiting operations in the mining and heating segments. The option includes the sale of shares in Elektrociepłownia Stalowa Wola and PGE EJ1. Also analysed will be options for searching for buyers of Zakład Górniczy Janina and TAURON Ciepło,” read a press release.

In addition, by 2025, the company plans to invest more in wind farms on land, solar farms and increase involvement in the construction of offshore wind farms.

“Thanks to the implementation of the planned activities, it will be possible to increase the share of low- and zero-emission sources in the generation structure of the Tauron Group to nearly 30 per cent by 2025 and over 65 per cent by 2030. For some of the planned projects, we assume the acquisition of financial partners and implementation of investments,” explained Marek Wadowski, vice president of Tauron.

On top of the development of renewable sources of energy, Tauron will also invest in smart city solutions.

“We will develop smart city solutions tested in Wrocław and services in the area of widely understood electromobility. By the end of 2020, a network of 150 charging stations for electric cars and a complete system for managing e-mobility will be put into operation,” added Kamil Kamiński , vice president of the management board for customer and corporate support at Tauron.