ESG and energy transition

Attorney Małgorzata Banasik took part in the Sustainable Development Forum. The prestigious event has been organised by ‘Forbes Poland’ for several years.

How to go through the energy transition responsibly? Is it possible to create a sustainable energy mix? How then to look at gas? Where are we in Poland with the implementation of RED directives? Such questions, among others, were asked during the panel discussion ‘Energy and fuels of the future’.

The co-founder of the BWW law firm emphasised that there is no other way than to combine ambitious ESG goals with the issue of security, the essence of which is flexibility, but also diversification of generation sources and power.

– The transition to low-carbon sources and the development of RES must go hand in hand with security and stability of the whole system. We need to unlock the potential of green energy wherever possible. This is primarily onshore wind energy, but also energy production from waste and biogas plants,’ said Ms Banasik.

As an example, she cited the Scandinavian countries, which have diagnosed what they can produce energy from and have placed a strong bet on their natural potential. However, that is not all. There is a need for stability and flexibility. She made it clear that, in addition to onshore wind energy, biogas plants in particular are waiting in line in Poland to unlock their potential. We also still underestimate energy production from waste.

– Gas in this context is the fuel that will allow us to temporarily manage the volatility of RES. On the road to developing RES and a nuclear source as a target at the base of our mix, we are being held hostage by technology. Hence the gas fuel, but not only. Also a strong bet on the development of battery-based energy storage,” –  analysed Ms Banasik.

She stressed that companies are reaching for them more and more and are increasingly willing to develop them.

– The BWW law firm is helping to obtain financing for this purpose, among others. The energy transition and going through it with clients is, next to comprehensive labour law advice, the main specialisation of our law firm. Our strength is our experience in supporting investment, acquisition processes in the area of RES, and our broad competence in the question of financing sources for transformation projects. The basis of good cooperation is a conversation and preliminary analysis, which allows us to learn as much as possible about the needs of our clients and respond to them in the best possible way – says the managing partner of BWW law firm.

The director of the Strategic Customer Department, who is responsible for energy, fuels and new technologies at PKO BP bank, also took part in the discussion. During the discussion, he stated, among other things, that : ‘there is no shortage of money for a responsible energy transition’. And also Remigiusz Nowakowski from the management board of Qair Polska – Qair Group, who outlined the transformation needs of investors and business.