Intelligent networks, intelligent control. Forum „Energy - Effect - Environment”

The kick-off meeting of the forum was dedicated to discussion of one of the biggest modernisation projects of the energy sector- development of smart grids.

Building a system of smart grids involves various sectors of the economy, such as: industry, business, government administration and local governments. Hence, among the participants were: Joanna Strzelec - Łobodzińska, Undersecretary of State in the Ministry of Economy; Andrzej Kraszewski - Minister of Environment, Anna Streżyńska - Chairman of the Office of Electronic Communications, Wojciech Dąbrowski - Chairman of the Industrial Development Agency and host of the meeting - Jan Rączka, Chairman of the National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management.

During the discussion the ERO President stressed the fact that building smart grids is one of the main challenges facing the participants in the Polish energy market and a condition for improving the energy efficiency of the country.

Critical points for the introduction of the Smart system is cooperation between all the parties involved in the project: public administration, energy sector, IT sector, and consumers of energy as well as effective consumer education. Only conscious and active participation of consumers in the system guarantees achieving the benefits arising from the work of the system - for the economy, households and the environment.

Introduction of the system creates an opportunity to restore citizen control over the energy system, to strengthen competitiveness and trigger off demonopolization of the energy system, which is currently the main obstacle in the view of the energy market regulator- says the energy Regulator.

Creation of the smart grid is going to prove important for the whole economy. Mr. M. Swora stressed the importance of latest technology - implementing the project will bring the synergy between electronic communications and modern energy industry. Smart grids are not only modern energy industry, but also modern construction industry, renewable sources of energy, modern automotive industry, electric cars in the streets of the Polish cities - says M. Swora, expressing his satisfaction with the willingness for cooperation between the government agencies participating in the Forum.

The presentation of Dr. M.Sc. Tomasz Kowalak, Director of the tariff department in the Energy Regulatory Office, raised great interest among the Forum participants. The ‘Smart metering, smart network, smart enterprise within the scope of function of regulatory’ presentation commenced the second, working part of the meeting.

The project of the priority programme „Intelligent Energy Networks” run by mentioned Found is to be completed by the end of June 2010. This is going to be a financial instrument for introduction of latest network solutions for increasing energy efficiency in the whole country. The „Energy - Effect - Environment” forum is an initiative of the NFEPWM, conducted in partnership with ERO, OEC and IDA, whose objective is to establish and maintain a dialog between the biggest stakeholders of the energy market and the Smart Grids project.

It is important to remember that in December 2008, the ERO already presented a feasibility study of smart metering in Poland, making this way the very first step towards introduction of development of smart grids. In June 2009 as an initiative of ERO the Declaration on the introduction of smart metering to the Polish energy system was signed. Promoting smart grids systems is one of the main objectives of the President of ERO.