Could you provide us with an overview of NAPE and its presence in Poland? How has NAPE contributed to the promotion of energy efficiency in the Polish economy?

Since its establishment, NAPE’s main objective has been to promote energy efficiency in the Polish economy. To achieve this goal, we have provided training programs to around 3000 professionals in the Polish market, with the aim of supporting the idea of thermo modernization in the housing sector. Additionally, we have provided advisory services to assist with the preparation of supportive legislation in this matter. Recently, we have been expanding our activities systematically from the housing sector to the industrial sector and other parts of the economy.

What is the potential for energy efficiency in Poland, and what are some of the challenges that companies face in implementing energy-saving measures?

According to Eurostat figures, the average European economy is energy efficient by a factor of 100 kg of oil equivalent at € 1000 GDP. Poland is measured on a 200 scale, which means we have twice the distance to the average European economy. Many Polish companies prioritize investing in expanding their businesses and developing new products, rather than optimizing their operations for energy efficiency. As a result, solutions provided by auditors, which may have a seven-year return on investment, might not be an attractive prospect to businesses.

What are some of the financing options available to companies to achieve energy efficiency, and how has Poland’s White Certificate Scheme been helping companies in this regard?

Poland’s White Certificate Scheme is one financing option available to companies that plan to undertake measures aimed at achieving certain energy savings. Companies can use the certificate for their own target compliance or sell it to other companies that are obliged to reach energy-saving targets. Currently, the demand for White Certificates is higher than the market can supply, but the market is continually developing. The scheme was implemented in Poland in 2011 based on a previous version of the energy efficiency directive. Since 2012, the European Union (EU) has released another directive, which was introduced in Poland in 2016. Since then, we have a national energy efficiency act without any time limitations, and we expect that it will be expanded and intensified in the years to come.

What are the energy efficiency measures that NAPE would recommend companies prioritize, and why?

Given the financial constraints that many companies face, NAPE recommends that companies prioritize measures that are financially attractive. The first step is to achieve savings with minimal financial effort. In Poland, there are currently promising combinations of artificial intelligence and automation systems that can improve energy efficiency. Smart regulation systems can be very cost-effective while achieving significant energy savings.

How has the COVID-19 outbreak impacted NAPE’s business, and how do you see it affecting the energy sector in the short term?

We believe that the current crisis will mostly affect the financial liquidity of companies like ours, as we are striving to continue our activities by developing and adapting relevant IT solutions. As for the general energy market, we believe that there are two fundamental scenarios being presented to decision-makers. The first scenario promotes traditional, proven but not climate-friendly energy systems as a good solution from an energy security perspective. The second scenario presents the crisis as a good catalyst/opportunity for the energy sector transition, supported by the intensification of IT solutions in the energy sector. However, it is too early to predict anything with certainty at this stage.

What measures did NAPE put in place to manage the crisis when it first began?

At the very beginning of the epidemic in Poland, we decided to organize home-office for our staff to minimize their risk of being infected. In most consultancy companies, the staff with their competencies is the most precious asset to secure.