Silesia as industrial region might face problems with sources of energy. We are in danger of depletion of natural resources. This is when alternative sources of energy need to be considered.

2.  There are many natural mineral resources in
Poland:
 The most important is coal. However, there
are also lignite, natural gas, oil, sulphur and
metal ores, such as copper, lead and zinc.
 We can also find salt deposits, which are
used in chemical industry.

3.  This low-quality fuel has
been used on a large
scale for the production
of electricity, despite its
very damaging effect on
the environment. Plans
called for gradual
reduction of lignite
extraction and use in
the 1990s.

4.  Extracted mostly in Upper
Silesia, Lower Silesia, and
in the southeastern part of
the country. Production
expanded in the 1960s and
1970s, then declined in the
next decade. In 1989
domestic production
covered 43 percent of the
country's total requirement.
Nowadays, biggest amount
of gas in Poland comes
from Russia.
 It is a very eco-friendly but
expensive source of energy
in our country.

5.  A major offshore oilfield
was discovered in the
Baltic Sea in 1985.
Including that field and
the older fields in the
Carpathian Mountains in
southeastern Poland,
total oil reserves were
estimated at 100 million
tons in 1990.
 Now Poland also
depends on Russian oil
resources.

6.  Sulphur is Poland's most
important nonmetallic
export mineral. Good
geological conditions have
supported large-scale
operations in three mines
producing about 5 million
tons annually.
 Copper is extracted in large
quantities at ten mines.
 Poland had the world's fifth-
largest deposits of lead and
zinc. The annual output of
lead and zinc ores was
about 5 million tons.

7.  Coal is Poland's most
important mineral
resource. In 1980 total
reserves were estimated
at 130 billion tons. The
largest coal deposits are
located in Upper Silesia
in the southwestern part
of the country.
 In Rybnik there are 9 coal
mines, which are the
main employer in our
region.

8.  Although coal is the
most common fuel in
our houses, it is very
harmful for the
environment and our
health.
 The amount of smog in
Rybnik only has gone
beyond the safe level,
which caused a huge
argument with our city
hall.

9.  At the beginning of the year
2015, there was a strike of
miners who were demanding
guarantee of emplyment. The
Prime Minister wanted to
close down four mines in our
region but the miners did not
give up and their protest was
successful.
 One of the biggest problems
in Silesia is the financial
problem, which was created
by extremely high cost of coal
extraction. The costs are do
high, that it is more
economical to import coal
from abroad. This situation
may result in a serious crisis.

10.  Hard coal - million tons 101.0
 Brown coal - million tons 61.1
 Coke - million tons 10.2
 Fuel oils - million tons 4.6
 Petrol (incl. aviation fuel) - million
tons 4.6
 Diesel oil - million tons 5.3
 Natural gas - cubic hectometres
5,608
 Electricity - TWh 150.8
10%
42%
23%
13%
12%
other
coal
oil
natural gas
lignite

11.  Depletion of natural resources is
the ratio of the actual stock to the
remaining reserve lifetime
(focusing on 25 years).In Poland
a bigger problem than depletion
of natural resources is the
problem of environment that
forced citizens and the
government to look for alternative
sources of energy. Sources, that
will not harm the environment.
 Other sources of energy will give
us not only the opportunity to
save minerals and fuels, but also
the choice and variety of energy
that can be used in our houses.

12. Type of installation Quantity Power (MW)
Biogas power stations 207 136.319
Biomass power stations 29 876.108
Photovoltaic power
stations
9 1.289
Wind power stations 743 2644.898
Hydroelectric power
stations
771 966.236
CO-fired technology 41 n/a
 Poland is ranked 5th in
the EU in terms of
production of primary
energy from solid
biomass. Poland is also
a leader among the
new EU member states
in terms of total
installed capacity of
wind farms.

13. Type of energy % of potential
Wood 100%
Energy crops 100%
Wind energy 27%
Photovoltanic 100%
Hydropower 62%
 There are many reasons for the
rapid development of renewable
energy in Poland:
 - dynamic economic growth
 - the need to reduce the amount
of municipal waste
 - good natural wind conditions
 - potential to get biogas
 - government investments in
renewable energy sources

14.  Recently there have been a lot of bailouts for
solar energy in individual properties. A
nuclear family could apply to the city council
for a refund of 30%. More and more houses
use this type of energy to save both money
and effort. It is especially popular to heat
water. It gives us maximum benefit with the
minimum of exertion.