Energy poverty in the Polish countryside and the development of renewable energy sources at the expert panel of the European Agricultural Forum

How can the fight against energy poverty in rural areas be combined with the dynamic development of renewable energy sources (RES)? Participants in the discussion panel Energy Poverty in the Polish Countryside and the Prospects for RES Development in Rural Areas will seek answers to this question during the VII European Agricultural Forum, which will take place on March 27, 2025, at the Exhibition and Congress Center in Jasionka near Rzeszów.

Experts on energy poverty and green energy

The debate will feature experts in energy and rural development. The panel will focus on solutions to energy poverty in rural areas by leveraging the potential of green energy.

Experts will assess the current energy situation in the Polish countryside and the scale of energy poverty, which affects many households in non-urban areas.

Energy poverty is a serious problem in the Polish countryside, where many families still struggle to ensure adequate thermal comfort and access to necessary energy services in their homes, emphasizes Dr. habil. Sławomir Kalinowski. We must seek solutions that combine improving the energy efficiency of rural households with investments in renewable energy sources. Only such a comprehensive approach will reduce rural residents’ bills while improving their quality of life and protecting the environment, adds the expert from the Institute of Rural and Agricultural Development of the Polish Academy of Sciences (IRWiR PAN).

According to him, effectively utilizing available support programs and funds is crucial so that rural residents can replace outdated heating sources, insulate their homes, and install their own small-scale RES systems.

RES and financing

The panel will discuss available solutions and best practices that are already helping reduce energy poverty in rural areas. A key focus will be on home-based RES installations such as photovoltaic panels, solar collectors, small wind turbines, and agricultural biogas plants, as well as ways to finance them.

The financing options for green energy investments in rural areas will be a crucial topic of discussion. Experts will present available support mechanisms – government and local subsidies, EU programs, and business models (e.g., energy cooperatives) that enable rural communities to undertake an energy transition.

Energy storage and just transition

Another significant issue will be energy storage. The flexibility of the energy system and the ability to store surplus energy from RES is the future of rural energy, notes Jarosław Fabiański, president of Direct4Energy, a leading electricity and gas supplier in Poland. nvestments in energy storage – from lithium-ion batteries to innovative hydrogen technologies – can be a real game changer. They will allow stable household power supply with clean energy, even when the sun isn’t shining or the wind isn’t blowing, explains Fabiański.

According to him, the dynamic development of RES in rural areas can bring tangible benefits to local communities – lower electricity and heating bills, protection from energy price fluctuations, and even the creation of additional income sources. Farmers in other EU countries are not just food producers but also energy producers – Polish agriculture has this potential too, the expert adds.

Panelists will explore pathways to sustainable and accessible energy in the Polish countryside. One of the key topics will be the concept of a just energy transition – one that considers the needs of less affluent households and ensures their participation in the benefits of green energy.

Discussions will focus on making the energy transition in rural areas more inclusive, from simplifying procedures and removing legal barriers hindering RES investments on agricultural land to energy education and advisory services for residents.

The discussion aims to outline specific action directions and recommendations that will integrate the fight against energy poverty with RES development. As a result, the Polish countryside could become an example of synergy between improving residents’ quality of life and climate protection.

The detailed agenda of the European Agricultural Forum, organized by the European Fund for the Development of Polish Rural Areas in cooperation with Agro Promotion, is available on the event’s official website.

Source: Press materials from the European Fund for the Development of Polish Rural Areas