Current conditions and forecasts of natural gas application in the production of electricity

Abstract

In times of global crisis, there is a dynamic change in the European gas market. This leads to:- decline or stagnation in demand for gas in the industrial sector;- growing importance of unconventional natural gas;- LNGmarket development especially in terminal condensing due to the availability of rawmaterials derived from unconventional gas deposits (USA, Canada);- development of regasification terminals in Europe due to the possibility of receiving additionalmaterial;- development of gas exchanges;- development of cross-border gas pipeline connections leading to a progressive increase in the integration and linkages between markets;- emergence of unconventional gas in particular shale gas and coal bed methane; in Poland the potential benefits from shale gas exploitation offering opportunities for its wider use in the energy sector;- attention drawn to the role of unconventional gas, particularly shale gas;- periodic surplus raw materials for the European market;- renegotiation of long-term contracts for European customers;- changes in contracts, which include the introduction of partial indexation to the exchange of gas markets, modification of TorP clauses, contract volume shift to later years;- stronger bargaining position for the buyer of raw materials;- possible long-term changes in the valuation of raw material in Europe;- growing importance of short and medium-term contracts;- changes in distributor relations - [client on national markets (meaning unclear)];- activity of new entrants to the gas markets.This paper presents the existing situation in the energy market in Poland in terms of the types of fuels used especially natural gas in the generation of electricity. It references Poland’s current energy relations with European countries, particularly with respect to the European Union. The analysis includes the size of unit energy consumption in selected EU countries. In addition, it reviews plans to build a major gas plant in Poland.