The Energy Market Enters a New Phase – A Recap of Energy Days 2026

Ignitis at Energy Days 2026: Balancing Renewable Energy Development and Economic Competitiveness

The future of the energy market is increasingly determined not only by the pace of renewable energy development but also by the system’s ability to effectively utilize the energy produced. During Energy Days in Katowice, industry representatives discussed how to balance the development of new investments with economic competitiveness and greater system flexibility. Representatives from Ignitis Polska and Ignitis Renewables Polska also actively participated in the discussions.

The end of September and beginning of October in Katowice were marked by Energy Days - one of the most important events in the energy industry. Over the course of two days, representatives from business, government, regulatory bodies, and industry organizations debated the sector’s most significant challenges and directions for development. Representatives from Ignitis Polska and Ignitis Renewables Polska also took part in the discussions, speaking during panel sessions, at the company’s booth, and during meetings with the media.

Among the conference topics, two issues were particularly relevant to Ignitis’s operations: the competitiveness of the economy in the context of energy prices and the new challenges facing the renewable energy market. These were the focal points of the debates featuring Maciej Kowalski, CEO of Ignitis and Ignitis Renewables in Poland, and Jacek Wojerz, COO of Ignitis Renewables.

Energy for Industry: How to Stay Competitive?

High energy prices are having an increasingly significant impact on the competitiveness of Polish industry and on decisions regarding future investments. This issue served as the starting point for the debate titled “Energy for Industry - Competitiveness or Deindustrialization?”, in which Maciej Kowalski discussed the topic with representatives of the largest energy companies, energy-intensive industries, and experts.

During the discussion, it was emphasized that deindustrialization does not necessarily mean the immediate closure of production facilities. Increasingly, it manifests itself in decisions to locate new investments in markets offering more predictable business conditions and lower energy costs. In this context, the CEO of Ignitis highlighted the importance of increasing the supply of energy from renewable sources, improving market liquidity, and creating regulations that foster investment.

At the same time, he noted that an increase in energy supply alone will not solve all the challenges facing the sector. The electrification of industry, the development of data centers, and new technologies will increase energy demand; therefore, existing assumptions regarding a sustained decline in prices may need to be reassessed.

The discussion also addressed issues such as direct transmission lines, the liquidity of energy trade, and the predictability of the regulatory environment. All these topics led to a common conclusion: the energy transition must go hand in hand with maintaining the competitiveness of industry and the economy.

Renewable Energy Enters the Next Stage of Development

The second panel, featuring a representative from Ignitis Renewables Polska, was dedicated to the future of renewable energy sources. Jacek Wojerz, COO, participated in the debate titled “Renewables After the Boom: New Market Conditions.”

The discussion revealed that the market is entering a new phase of development. Until now, the key objective has been to rapidly increase installed capacity; today, however, the system’s ability to effectively utilize the energy produced is becoming equally important. As the scale of redispatching increases and grid constraints become more severe, the importance of solutions that enhance market flexibility—such as energy storage systems and hybrid projects utilizing cable pooling—is growing.

Jacek Wojerz highlighted, among other things, the potential of combining wind and solar power sources with energy storage systems as part of a shared grid infrastructure. He also emphasized that the profitability of such projects, the availability of components, and regulatory stability will be key to the market’s further development. Among the significant challenges, the panelists also mentioned the limited number of well-prepared wind projects and lengthy administrative procedures.

Conversations Offstage as Well

Energy Days is not just about panel discussions and expert presentations. An important part of Ignitis’s presence at the event was also the company’s booth in the exhibition area.

It served as a space for direct conversations with clients and representatives of other companies in the sector. Discussions focused on market trends as well as the specific needs of businesses regarding energy procurement. Visitors were also treated to coffee and a special attraction—VR goggles that allowed them to look inside a wind turbine and see it from a perspective not normally accessible.

This year’s edition of Energy Days demonstrated that the energy transition is entering its next phase. Today, not only generation capacity but also the efficient use of renewable energy, the pace of infrastructure development, and cooperation among all market participants are becoming increasingly important. We are pleased that we were able to contribute to this important discussion.