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Energy Community Insights: Poland's National Coalition
The Life COMET project aims to transform the community energy landscape in Central and Eastern Europe through assessment, experience sharing, and coalition building. Our series of blog posts “Energy Community Insights: A Tour of Central & Eastern Europe” explores the emergence and growth of national coalitions of energy communities in Croatia, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Poland, Romania, and Slovenia.
This blog post introduces Poland’s emerging coalition of energy communities, highlighting its foundational steps and the vision behind the SERC initiative through the eyes of its president, Rafał Krenz.
Poland’s Community Energy Coalition
Poland’s national coalition of energy communities—known as SERC Union—is taking its first steps toward building a stronger and more connected ecosystem of citizen-led energy initiatives. Its first major gathering was held on June 28, 2024, marking the launch of the coalition’s activities.
The coalition’s mission is to support the development of energy communities through legal, technical, and financial support, as well as by advocating for more favorable national policies. Activities include organizing trainings, workshops, and knowledge-sharing events to help municipalities, cooperatives, and grassroots groups better understand and implement energy community projects. Key topics include legal frameworks, financing models, and technical solutions.
A critical part of the coalition’s strategy is the development of a clear governance structure. A democratic model ensures that member voices are represented, with regular in-person and online meetings. The coalition was officially registered as a legal entity on the 21st of May, 2024. Its statutes were co-signed by the 12 founding members, a diverse group of social cooperatives, local energy co-ops, and housing associations. These groups are united in their commitment to advancing community-led renewable energy and energy democracy in Poland.
Life COMET has been instrumental in the coalition’s launch, offering financial support, capacity building, and strategic guidance. The SERC Union is leading outreach to over 230 municipalities, and digital tools are being developed to make participation in energy communities easier for citizens and local actors.
A Conversation with Rafał Krenz: Building Community from the Heart
Rafał Krenz is the President of the SERC Union, he shared his insights about his role, the coalition’s values, and his vision for the future:
Can you tell us about your role in the coalition?
"My name is Rafał Krenz, and I am the President of the SERC Union. For me, energy cooperatives are part of the broader development of citizen initiatives and social projects. They engage residents in co-deciding on their communities, contributing to the democratization of social life.
The SERC Union is an institution that aims to maintain quality among cooperatives, not only energy cooperatives but also digital and developmental ones. The idea is to create better legal and institutional conditions to support these communities. SERC serves as a cooperation platform for energy cooperatives, facilitating the exchange of experience, knowledge and best practices in renewable energy use. Its work focuses on the technical and business aspects of energy production and distribution while also promoting participatory, democratic models in cooperative management and development."
How did the coalition come together, and what challenges has it faced?
"I believe that energy cooperatives are essential because they represent a part of something much larger and more significant than just the energy sector. It’s about mobilizing people. The first challenge when we initiated the coalition was that this sector is still very small in Poland, with only a few organizations active in this area.
So, its limited size is the first obstacle. The second challenge is that many energy cooperatives are not based on citizen involvement but primarily on the activities of local institutions, like municipal offices or community centers, rather than citizen engagement. Our focus was on cooperatives that mobilize residents, but there are very few of them. Finally, the third challenge, common to any initiative aiming to bring together different groups, is simply getting everyone in one place to discuss things together.
One pleasant and somewhat surprising experience was coming up with the acronym SERC, which stands for S: Społdzielnie (Cooperatives), E: Energetyczne (Energy), R: Rozwojowe (Development), and C: Cyfrowe (Digital). Initially, we saw ourselves as a very formal, serious organization, based on legislation. But with the name SERC (which also means “hearts” in Polish), the association suddenly took on a warmer, friendlier character, rather than just a strict, formal institution. This unexpected development gave the organization a positive, inviting identity."
What is your long-term vision for the coalition?
"Together with the Board, we defined two levels on which we want to operate. First, at the local level, we aim to engage more cooperatives in the energy sector and others to join SERC as members. Second, we plan to work with the government to ensure good legislation for cooperatives by representing their interests in discussions with policymakers. This is especially important as the government has various ideas for developing cooperatives, particularly in the energy sector, and we want to be a partner in this dialogue."
The Polish coalition has set its sights on building a stronger foundation for community energy over the long term. This includes supporting pilot projects, investing in digital tools, and helping Poland’s largest energy operator explore energy sharing mechanisms.
Its vision aligns with Poland’s climate goals and the EU’s broader energy transition agenda. By supporting local ownership and democratic participation, SERC Union aims to contribute to a more just and sustainable energy system.
