There are several factors that are contributing to the growing demand for our products and solutions in Poland. Firstly, the overall growth of the Polish economy, with the country’s GDP experiencing consistent growth for over 20 years, has led to infrastructure development, expansion in the construction market, and increased investments in various industries. These positive trends have had a direct impact on our business.

Secondly, the transformation of the energy market in Poland is a significant driver of demand for our solutions. The country’s energy mix is predominantly based on coal, but in recent years, there has been a growing awareness of the negative consequences of climate change, coupled with a significant increase in energy prices. As a result, more and more customers are looking to change the way they use energy, and Schneider Electric is well-positioned to address this need with our energy and automation digital solutions, powered by our flagship platform EcoStruxure. Our world-leading energy technologies, real-time automation, software, and services are designed to improve efficiency and sustainability in homes, buildings, data centers, infrastructure, and industries, aligning with the changing energy landscape in Poland.

What, in your opinion, are the most important technological trends shaping the energy sector, and how are they influencing the industry?

There are several technological trends that are shaping the energy sector, with some of them being applicable to the overall economy, while others are more specific to the energy industry. For example, the growing demand for electrical energy driven by industrialization, urbanization, and societal progress is a mega trend that is influencing the energy sector. Additionally, the increasing adoption of renewable energy sources is driving sustainability in the industry but also challenging the traditional centralized model of energy generation.

Renewable energy sources are often smaller in scale and can be located closer to the point of consumption, which is known as distributed generation. This decentralization of energy production necessitates the need for energy storage and grid management solutions. Furthermore, the digitalization mega trend is also impacting the energy sector, as the integration of distributed renewable energy sources into the electrical grid poses challenges in terms of reliability and balancing energy supply and demand. Schneider Electric is a global leader in advanced distribution management systems for electrical utilities, providing solutions for grid automation and management software to address these challenges.

The energy industry is often perceived as conservative. What has been your experience in Poland? Do you notice a growing appetite for modern technology?

It is true that the energy sector in Poland is generally considered conservative, as it is a capital-intensive industry with regulated pricing, and the ability to invest in new technologies is influenced by various stakeholders, including politicians. However, there are pockets of excellence within the industry. For example, we have successfully implemented projects related to “self-healing grids” in Poland, which are smart grid solutions that automatically detect, isolate, and reconnect faults through alternative routes. This indicates that there is a growing appetite for modern technology in certain areas of the Polish energy sector, despite its overall conservative reputation.

You mentioned storage briefly earlier. How do you anticipate the evolution of this segment in Poland in the coming years?

Schneider Electric offers specialized solutions that help customers build and operate small grids, and storage is an integral part of these offerings. Currently, there is a growing interest in storage technology in Poland, as the adoption of renewable energy sources increases and the need to match supply with demand becomes more critical. However, considering the budget limitations in the country, the storage segment is still in its early stages.