Poland profile

Overview

Final energy consumption in Poland was increasing annually by 1.1%/year from 2000 reaching 69.9 Mtoe in 2023 (at normal climate). The biggest consumer was transport sector, which share amounted to 34% in 2023, followed by households with 29% share. Energy use of third biggest consumer - industry - decreased by around 0.9%/year during given period and accounted for 20% of final energy consumption in 2023. Service sector, due to a rapid growth of consumption (2.2%/year) increased its share to 12% of total final consumption. Consumption in agriculture decreased by 1.1%/year and the share of this sector amounted to 5% in 2023.

In 2023, energy efficiency for final consumers had improved by 32% since 2000, averaging a yearly improvement of 1.7%. The most notable progress was seen in the industrial sector, which achieved a 61% increase in efficiency, equating to an annual improvement of 4%. Household energy efficiency improved by 23% compared to 2000, with a yearly improvement rate of 1.1%. In the transport sector, energy efficiency rose by 16% over the same period, with an annual improvement of 0.7%. However, the services sector saw only a modest 6% increase in energy efficiency since 2000, translating to an annual improvement of just 0.2%.

From 2010 to 2023, cumulative energy savings increased from 12.7 to 22.7 Mtoe (+1.1%/year). Industry remained the largest contributor, though its share fell from 75% in 2010 to 65% in 2023 (–10 percentage points). Household savings grew steadily, reaching 23% (+5 percentage points), while transport rose to 10% (+4 percentage points). Services remained marginal at 2% (+1 percentage point). Annual industry savings accelerated after 2019 (+6.7%/year), contrasting with slower gains earlier. Household savings maintained consistent growth (+6.2%/year), while transport stabilized post‑2019. Overall, efficiency improvements across sectors drove substantial cumulative reductions, though structural shifts redistributed contributions.

Primary energy consumption in Poland declined by 9.7 Mtoe between 2010 and 2023, reflecting reductions across all major components. Final energy consumption fell by 2.9 Mtoe, while net consumption in the power sector dropped by 4.9 Mtoe. Other transformation processes contributed a further decline of 1.2 Mtoe, and non‑energy uses decreased by 0.6 Mtoe. The power generation sector was the largest driver of this overall reduction, accounting for about 56% of the total fall in primary energy consumption. Together, these changes highlight a broad downward trend across sectors, with electricity generation playing the most significant role.

Between 2010 and 2023, higher activity levels—driven by growth in industrial production, more dwellings, increased traffic, and rising value added in services and agriculture—raised final energy consumption by 21.6 Mtoe. This increase was offset by several factors that together reduced consumption by 18.3 Mtoe. Structural changes in industry and modal shifts in transport lowered demand by 1.6 Mtoe, while energy savings across sectors contributed a decline of 10 Mtoe. A warmer climate in 2023 reduced household and service consumption by 5 Mtoe, and behavioral changes, productivity effects, and other variations cut a further 1.7 Mtoe, moderating overall growth.

Buildings

Final energy consumption of buildings in Poland was 28.9 Mtoe in 2023, with households at 20.5 Mtoe (71%) and services at 8.3 Mtoe (29%). From 2010–2023, growth averaged +0.2%/year. Households rose in 2010–2019 (+1.2%/year) but fell after 2019 (–1.9%/year). Services were stable overall, declining slightly before 2019 (0.3%/year) and rising modestly after (+0.7%/year).

During the period 2010–2023 household energy use rose slightly overall (+0.2%/year), driven by space heating growth until 2019 (+2.1%/year) but falling sharply after (–3.6%/year). Water heating declined before 2019 (–0.7%/year) then increased (+1.4%/year). Cooking was stable, while electricity use grew modestly (+0.5%/year). The strongest shifts were heating’s post‑2019 decline and water heating’s recent rebound.

Household heating energy consumption per square meter, adjusted for climate, decreased by an average of 0.9% per year, reaching 12.6 koe/m² in 2023—a reduction of 18% compared to 2000. 

In 2023, the energy consumption per dwelling for water heating was 0.25 toe, reflecting a 2% in share decrease compared to 2000 and an annual reduction rate of 0.4%. Energy consumption for cooking was 0.13 toe, marking a 15% decrease since 2000 and a 0.75% annual reduction. However, energy use for lighting and electrical appliances rose to 0.15 toe, an increase of 15% compared to 2000, with an annual growth rate of 0.6%.

In 2023, energy consumption in households amounted to 22.2 Mtoe, an increase of 29% compared to 2000. In the period 2000-2023, energy savings reduced household energy consumption by 4.9 Mtoe, whereas climate increased energy consumption in households by 1.7 Mtoe, more dwellings by 4.3 Mtoe, larger homes by 2.6 Mtoe, and other factors by 1.3 Mtoe. 

During 2010–2023, electricity use per dwelling declined –1.8%/year, falling faster in 2010–2019 (–2.2%/year) and more slowly after 2019 (–0.9%/year). Thermal uses dropped (–2.1%/year) and their share fell from 22% to 19% (–3.7 percentage points). Appliances and lighting were stable (–0.3%/year) but gained importance, rising from 78% to 81% (+3.7 percentage points).

Between 2010 and 2023, household energy consumption in Poland declined from 22.0 to 19.3 Mtoe. The largest reductions came from climate effects (–3.6 Mtoe) and energy savings (–3.0 Mtoe), reflecting warmer conditions and efficiency improvements. Offsetting factors included more dwellings (+2.2 Mtoe), larger homes (+1.0 Mtoe), and lifestyle changes such as increased appliance ownership and comfort (+0.7 Mtoe). Overall, efficiency gains and climate impacts outweighed growth drivers, leading to a net decline of –2.7 Mtoe. The balance highlights how structural and behavioral changes interact with savings to shape household energy demand.

In 2023, energy consumption per employee in the service sector increased by 12% compared to 2000, corresponding to an increase of 0.5%/year. 

In 2023, electricity consumption per employee increased by 32% compared to 2000, an increase of 1.3%/year. 

Between 2022 and 2023, service energy use declined slightly to 7.9 Mtoe (–2.9%). Private offices fell sharply (–25%) while education rose strongly (+46.8%). Health/social works and other services grew moderately (+16–17%), and trade increased slightly (+2.5%). In 2023, offices held the largest share (30%), followed by trade (27%), health (13%), and other services (13%).

Between 2010 and 2023, energy consumption per employee in services declined –1.8%/year, with sharper falls in 2010–2019 (–1.9%/year) and milder after 2019 (–1.5%/year). Electricity use was stable overall (+0.3%/year), slightly negative before 2019 (–0.2%/year) but rising after (+1.5%/year). The strongest electricity increase occurred in 2022–2023 (+5.8%), highlighting efficiency gains offset by growing demand for appliances.

Transport

In 2023, the share of passenger cars in energy consumption in transport amounted to 51%, an increase of 1 percentage points compared to 2000, and the share of trucks reached 42.5% (a significant increase of 8.9 percentage points compared to 2000). The share of other modes was small and decreased.

In 2023, the share of passenger cars in inland passenger traffic amounted to 81.5%, a significant increase of 21.8 percentage points compared to 2000. The share of buses and trains made up 8.9% and 9.6% respectively – significant decreases in share compared to 2000 by 18.2 and 3.6 percentage points respectively.

In 2023, the share of road transport in inland freight traffic reached 76%, a significant increase of 26.8 percentage points compared to 2000. The share of rail transport was 24%, a significant decrease of 25.7 percentage points compared to 2000. Water transport of goods remained marginal.

Between 2010 and 2023, the energy consumption of cars per passenger‑km rose slightly from 0.044 to 0.049 koe/pkm, averaging +0.7%/year. The period 2010–2019 showed a stronger increase (+2.0%/year), driven by rising car ownership and higher traffic volumes. After 2019, however, consumption per passenger‑km declined (–2.0%/year), reflecting efficiency improvements, newer vehicle technologies, and shifts in travel behavior.

Short‑term variations were significant: in 2020–2021, consumption jumped nearly +9.7%, linked to pandemic‑related reductions in occupancy and travel patterns. This was followed by a correction in 2021–2022 (–2.6%) and a sharper fall in 2022–2023 (–4.9%), bringing intensity back toward pre‑pandemic levels.

Overall, the long‑term trend highlights two phases: a pre‑2019 increase in energy intensity per passenger‑km, and a post‑2019 decline as efficiency gains and behavioral adjustments outweighed growth in car travel. Despite recent improvements, cars remain the most energy‑intensive passenger mode, underlining the importance of continued efficiency measures and modal diversification to reduce transport energy demand.

Energy consumption in transport has increased 2.5 times since 2000, the most important factor being the increase in passenger and freight transport, which contributed to an increase in consumption of 8.5 Mtoe. The modal shift from public transport to private cars for passengers and from trains to road for goods increased consumption by 3.6 Mtoe and other factors by a further 4.4 Mtoe. Energy savings (2.2 Mtoe) partially offset the impact of these effects.

Industry

The share of the three most energy-consuming industries (paper and pulp, chemicals and non-metallic) increased from 45% in 2000 to 49% in 2023. The final energy consumption of non-metallic industry increased by 19% compared to 2000, and paper and pulp industry by 11%, whereas the chemical industry decreased by 17%.

Between 2000 and 2023, there was a significant decrease in energy consumption per tonne of steel, paper and cement production, i.e. there was a significant improvement in energy efficiency. In 2023, the unit energy consumption of steel decreased by 39% compared to 2000, the unit consumption of paper decreased by 40%, and the unit consumption cement decreased by 23%.

Growth of activity in industrial branches contributed to increase in energy consumption by 15 Mtoe since 2000. On the opposite energy savings (13.7 Mtoe) and structural changes towards less energy intensive production (2.4 Mtoe) led to decrease the consumption. As a result, energy consumption of industry has decreased by 0.4%/year since 2000.