V TIME ECONOMIC FORUM

The TIME Economic Forum provides a neutral platform for exchanging experiences and for discussion on the development of the new technology market in Poland and abroad. This year’s edition of the Forum was dedicated to the key issues of the development of the power and ICT industry, combined through the synergy of investments into intelligent network infrastructures (Smart Grids) and next-generations networks, the development of M2M services, elaboration of business models for community power generation, as well as to many other tasks set out in the document prepared by the Polish Chamber of Commerce for Electronics and Telecommunications (KIGEiT): "The purposes and objectives of the KIGEiT power strategy."

The main theme of the V TIME Economic Forum organised by the Polish Chamber of Commerce for Electronics and Telecommunications were the strategies of development of ICT and power sectors, which have generated more than PLN 160 billion in sales, have not succumbed to the financial crisis, and have actively supported Poland’s economic growth. KIGEiT calls for a thorough examination of its “Power Strategy” that should be carried out by the government. The approval of the strategy would start the process of specialisation of the Polish industry, as well as increase the competitiveness of Polish electronic products, Polish power electronics, renewable energy sources, devices for telecommunication and power networks, and software for providing telematic services.

The subjects discussed during the V TIME EF revolve around the programme of the ICT industry development and provide ground for collaboration with the energy industry in the process of technological convergence of power and telecommunication systems. The Forum gave an opportunity to discuss new business models and principal directions of development of the high-tech industry in Poland. The presented vision relies on the main directions of the technological progress of the economies of developed countries.

Members of the Chamber call for a rapid conclusion of works on the Law on Renewable Power Sources and the amendments to the Power Law, which will clear the way for investments in prosumer micro-installations and will open the power market to new investments and adaptation of new technologies. We would like to stress that the said Law is of major economic importance and will set the directions of development for the entire industry. As a result, Poland will be able to keep pace with other EU countries, which have been making in this area a very rapid progress. Elaboration of a system of temporary support for the power coming from renewable energy micro-sources, and not for the power-generating devices themselves, is the only way to successfully involve the citizens’ and the state’s funds in the development of power industry based on the country’s own capacities. Such actions will allow to offset the investment costs with new jobs and important contribution to the State budget. We are able to build a system that will rely on both, large-scale power devices and community power generation. We are in possession of an important manufacturing base for solar panels, micro wind turbines, gas micro-sources, heat pumps, power inverters, and the facilities for power electronic automation, necessary for connecting the said equipment to the power electronic networks. Such a solution seems the sole prospective way to the competitive power prices and to low-emission economy. Poland is the only country in the EU, in which the sector of energy service companies (ESCO, companies working on increasing energy efficiency) practically does not exist, and in which there is no market for the ESCO-type telecom services. We call for withdrawing from the concept of the small energy “three-pack”, since it cannot be perceived as a growth-oriented solution, but merely a way to “circumvent the Directives” and maintain the highly damaging system of financing coal-fired power plants, relying on establishing a co-firing system (i.e. co-firing of biomass and coal in coal-fired boilers). Implementation of the concept will result in blocking pro-development impulses for the operators of power and telecommunication network operators, manufacturers of energy from renewable power sources, and the development of new technologies. The solutions proposed by KIGEiT rely on abolishing the existing co-firing system and introducing a new charging system for standard power plants and power systems to ensure their stability and openness to innovation. We need a system in which it will be cost-effective to maintain classic power sources, which would be employed when the energy from renewable sources would be unavailable. Thus, the classic energy industry would gain new economic reason to actively participate in the process of tech transformation leading to the development of intelligent ICT networks and distributed generation based on renewable energy sources. Given the above, we believe that as entrepreneurs we have the right and duty to demand creation of proper legal environment for stimulating the country’s economic situation by enabling free access to the power industry for private and business funding. The lack of possibility for innovative development of power manufacturer market resulted in a situation where without government guarantees and support involving the use of public funds, investing private funds in an industrial plant producing electricity becomes very difficult. Opening the power industry to a competitive market of M2M services, that may be provided by the telecom operators, should be seen as the basis for rationalisation of smart grid-oriented investments.

The technical evolution of the power sector and the development of low-emission economy may be seen as a joint investment project for both power and telecom industry, which may have an important positive impact on the country’s economic situation and translate into creation of 50-60 thousand new jobs, as well as boost specialisation of the Polish ICT industry. The TIME Economic Forum relies also on the works of Energy Market Workshops (EMW) - a working platform for the collection and exchange of knowledge related to the construction of smart grids. EMW were established at the initiative of the President of the Energy Regulatory Office and the CEO of Polskie Sieci Elektroenergetyczne S.A.

The Grand Gala of the TIME Economic Forum

Traditionally, the end of the Forum was celebrated with a Grand Gala, during which Stefan Kaminski, the President of KIGEiT, together with the Minister Michał Boni honoured the members and business partners of the Chamber for their important contribution to the development of the Chamber and the Polish ICT industry, on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of KIGEiT.

The main event was the handing out of the “Golden Bulldozer” award. This prestigious award was granted to the individuals that: With their attitude, work, involvement and sacrifice bring a unique contribution to the development of Polish telecom, electronic and power market.

• Promote the implementation of modern technologies.
• Have impact on raising standards and quality of products and services.
• Actively support changes in Polish laws and regulations regarding the improvement of development and competitiveness of the entire industry.
• This year, the “Golden Bulldozer” award went to Mr. Marek Woszczyk, President of the Energy Regulatory Office, for his involvement in modernisation of the power industry.

Aims and objectives of the KIGEiT Energy Strategy are available at: www.kigeit.org.pl/FTP/sissg/StrategiaenergetycznaKIGEiT.pdf