On 3 – 4 March, the Silesian Museum hosted a significant discussion on the decarbonization of centralized coal-based energy systems. Organized by the Silesian University of Technology in collaboration with the DEsire Energy Transition Platform and the Metropolis GZM, the event brought together key representatives from public administration, the energy sector, academia, and industry to address the challenges and strategies of energy transition.
Experts on Decarbonization and Energy Transition
The event was inaugurated by:
✅ Prof. Sebastian Werle, Vice-Rector for Science and International Cooperation, Silesian University of Technology
✅ Igor Śmietański, Vice-Chairman of the Board, Metropolis GZM
✅ Prof. Łukasz Bartela, Chair of the DEsire Energy Transition Platform and Organizing Committee of RWS2025
The opening speech, “Global Pathways for Coal Repowering”, was delivered by Staffan Qvist, President of Quantified Carbon and founder of the Repower Initiative.
The discussions focused on:
🔹 Global pathways for repowering and decarbonization
🔹 National strategies for replacing energy sources
🔹 Energy transition in the context of a just transition
🔹 The role of local content in the energy sector
🔹 Investment financing models
Experts and Industry Leaders in Panel Discussions
The event featured 10 thematic panels, with experts from Poland and abroad, including:
🔸 “Polish Strategies for Replacing Energy Sources in the System” – featuring CEOs of PGE GiEK S.A., Tauron Polska Energia S.A., and representatives of PSE S.A.
🔸 “Energy Transition in the Context of a Just Transition” – with representatives of local governments and the mining sector.
🔸 “Global Strategies for Replacing Capacity in Energy Systems” – with experts from IAEA, KAIST, PPCA, and Quantified Carbon.
🔸 “From Coal to Nuclear” and “From Coal to Renewables” – discussions on the future energy mix and technologies.
🔸 “Local Content in the Energy Sector” – debating the role of domestic entities in the energy transition.
🔸 “Investment Financing Models” – discussing financial mechanisms supporting new technologies.
The second day of the event opened with a keynote speech by Prof. Ning Li (Xiamen University) titled “A First-Principles Analysis of Energy Transition and Lessons from China’s Practice”.
Summary and Next Steps
Intensive debates and knowledge exchange demonstrated that Poland’s energy transition requires a comprehensive, multi-dimensional approach—incorporating technological, economic, and social aspects. The insights from this event will be a valuable contribution to further work on decarbonization strategies.
We sincerely thank all participants and speakers for their engagement and valuable discussions.
