Energy planning in Poland and Estonia against the background of their energy efficiency policies

Poland and Estonia belong to the Central and Eastern European countries that will first join the European Union within the next years. One of their tasks within the accession process is the improvement of energy efficiency and the stronger utilisation of renewable energy sources. Naturally, a lot of legal and financial efforts have to be undertaken to reach this goal. However, also the instrument of energy planning is of very great importance since it can help to develop the energy sector in a more sustainable way. A research study was undertaken concentrating on the role of energy planning within the Polish and Estonian energy policy. It shows the main emphasises of energy policy in both countries and the instruments predominantly used for the promotion of energy efficiency and renewable energy sources. By the examination of several energy planning projects, their developments processes, achievements and problems, an analysis of the instrument of energy planning has been done focusing on its effects for improving energy efficiency and renewables. In addition, energy planning activities of other countries, e.g. Denmark and Germany, have been looked at for decisive factors that made them successful. It has been examined if and how these factors could be transferred to the energy planning systems in Poland and Estonia while paying special regard to the specific requirements of their energy economy and energy policy.