The expression "May you live in interesting times!" is read as a curse for good reason. We are well aware of this in an era of extremely dynamic technological progress and in the face of an increasingly alarming state of the environment. The experience of the pandemic and Russian aggression against Ukraine proved even more clearly that the category of certainty no longer applies to the geopolitical situation, nor to industry or business. This makes it all the more important to look for solutions that are stable, economical and friendly to both users and the planet. The smart green transition is mentioned Lukasz Bartela, Ph.D., professor, Silesian University of Technology, an employee of the Department of Energy Machines and Equipment at the Faculty of Environmental and Energy Engineering, author of more than 200 scientific publications and creator of 11 patents.

The interview appeared on Business Zone Silesia 03/2024.

For the modern industrial customer, is ecology really that important, or is the choice of "green" solutions dictated more by economic considerations?

A combination of these two aspects definitely prevails. We have probably already entered the era of the conscious consumer for good. For example, the individual consumer, who is gaining awareness, is beginning to orient himself in the often difficult structure of electricity bills. Until now, he tended not to delve into the content of these bills - firstly because the price was acceptable, and secondly because there were no clearly discernible dynamics of change in this price. An informed consumer once did not imagine that there might come a time when one would have to worry about the availability of energy. This is a problem of particular importance to the industrial consumer, because in the whole area of his energy needs, he is looking for solutions that ensure competitiveness, and therefore give not only acceptable levels of energy prices, but also ensure energy availability. An informed consumer realizes that the energy transition taking place in Poland and throughout Europe raises the risk of energy shortages in the near future. In Poland, the energy transition is moving from coal to green sources. Unfortunately, a feature of these sources is that very often the availability of energy generated through them does not depend on the disposer of the technology, as it is dependent on weather conditions. We are talking here mainly about energy obtained from the wind and the sun. Unfortunately, nuclear power investments are still far on the horizon in Poland. The consumer is aware that on the way to achieving a healthy energy mix in Poland, based on nuclear technologies, in a smaller part on gas, the whole range of RES, supported by large-scale and small-scale energy storage systems, he will have to cope with a number of inconveniences, including periodic energy shortages.

How real is this threat?

The problem will probably affect the private consumer to a small extent, but it could more clearly affect industry. Experts' forecasts suggest that shortages could appear as early as 2028. In the first phase, they will probably not be significant and will rather affect entrepreneurs who are relatively resistant to such inconveniences. In subsequent years, however, the problem could worsen, significantly reducing the competitiveness of individual entities and, by extension, the national economy as a whole.

Ecology is becoming as important to companies as economics?

Today, ecology is reflected in economics. The carbon footprint of conventional energy production carries a significant cost. Today's consumer is increasingly aware of this - both the cost of energy production and the possibility of energy shortages, the risk of which is a consequence of the progressive decarbonization processes and, in particular, the phasing out of flexible, large-scale conventional power sources. Fortunately, the range of green technologies available on the market, tailored to the needs of different sizes and types of industrial entities, is growing. They can be adaptable not only at the level of established energy clusters, but also at the level of individual enterprises. Generation and energy storage technologies designed to meet the needs of individual consumers provide an opportunity to defer the risk of being subject to the adverse effects of the energy transition, in particular, energy shortages and fluctuations in the price of energy. In addition, they shape the modern image of companies, which are increasingly open to diversified technological adaptation. An informed consumer is one who, while weighing risks and costs, sees technological options to take on the role of the state, which, in terms of guaranteeing the availability of energy, given the breadth and dynamics of decarbonization processes, will find it difficult to meet the expectations of all demand-side and supply-side players.

Do we have the potential in Poland to offer favorable solutions for business in terms of production and storage of "green" energy?

Yes. We are now reaching for globally available solutions, such as electricity storage systems in so-called lithium-ion batteries. Of course, in certain areas of application they are unrivaled. But the issue needs to be looked at a little more broadly, also through the prism of the wallet. The aforementioned systems are expensive, and do not necessarily fit the needs of the modern consumer.

So scientists and entrepreneurs are playing to one goal. And what about local governments?

Personally, I highly value cooperation with local governments. Environmental and energy awareness in these communities is also noticeable. Increasingly, cities are turning to energy-efficient solutions, and trying to be green. This is particularly welcome in the Silesian-Głębi community - we want our region to be seen not only as a center of heavy industry, but also of modern technology and green business.

Which of the myths about the energy transition is the most damaging and needs to be quickly debunked?

For me, as a power engineer operating at the intersection of conventional and modern technologies, the most striking myth is the one that says we can be competitive by basing energy production solely on distributed, weather-dependent RES. Meanwhile, we need to create a system that is resilient to market fluctuations, but also to weather fluctuations. Regulatory support mechanisms are important. We have high hopes for SMRs, or so-called small modular nuclear reactors, especially in light of the competitiveness of our region, which, after all, wants to maintain its leadership position on the industrial map of Poland.

In this context, can it be said that SMG Silesia is in line with the demands of modern business, combining economics with ecology?

SMG Silesia relies on innovative solutions, including those shaped in Polish universities. This pleases me personally, as a scientist who is also a close observer of the market. Cooperation between science and entrepreneurship has the potential to create business solutions that meet the needs of the modern economy and can provide solutions to the problems we face today, and even more so will face in the coming decades.

Luke Bak