Poland’s PGE to invest $19b for zero-emissions goal

Bloomberg

Poland’s largest utility plans to spend 75 billion zloty ($19.4 billion) by 2030 as it aims to become climate-neutral by mid-century.
PGE SA seeks to invest half of that amount in renewable energy sources,
including offshore and onshore wind as well as solar power plants, it said in a statement. Its 2050 strategy is conditional on a planned spinoff of coal assets to a separate, state-owned vehicle which will enable PGE to get access to debt financing.
“In order to expand, we need to split into two companies,” CEO Wojciech Dabrowski said. “Today, financial institutions refuse to fund coal ventures.”
PGE follows oil refiner and power producer PKN Orlen SA in setting a zero-emission target as Polish corporates are blazing the trail for the country’s government, which is yet to commit to the European Union wide 2050 climate ambition. Poland, which depends on coal for about 70% of electricity generation, is in tough negotiations with the EU and with its own mining unions on how to reach and finance the emission cuts.
PGE pledges that by 2030 zero- and low-emission sources will account for 85% of its generation portfolio, while the share of renewable energy will amount to 50% of its total generation. Offshore wind capacity installed in the Baltic Sea should amount to 2.5 gigawatts in 2030 and exceed 6.5 gigawatts by 2040.