Energy transition is a buzzword that increasingly comes up in conversations with entrepreneurs. But does the transition to green energy really have to mean costly investments, photovoltaic installations or a major overhaul of processes? Not necessarily. It turns out that there are quick and easy ways to reduce your carbon footprint – also available to small and medium-sized companies. We talk to an expert – Rafal Staśkiewicz, Product Manager responsible for coordinating ESG-related solutions, Ekovoltis.
What is the fastest and easiest way for a company to reduce its carbon footprint without making a large investment?
Rafal Staśkiewicz (R.S.): The easiest and fastest way to lower a company’s carbon footprint is to switch from an electricity seller to a supplier that offers energy from 100% renewable sources. For an entrepreneur, this means as much as signing a new contract for the sale of electricity – the rest is already taken care of by the new seller, who has the right to do all the paperwork on behalf of the customer.
With this simple decision, virtually overnight, a company can reduce the carbon footprint of its operations without investing in infrastructure or technology. What’s more, for many companies today, the use of green energy is also an asset in communicating with business partners, who are increasingly paying attention to a sustainable supply chain.
What is the procedure for switching from an energy seller to a green energy supplier? Is it really as simple and safe as the operators declare?
R.S.: Yes, it is indeed one of the simplest and least involved processes for a company. From the formal side, it looks similar to changing a mobile network operator. Once we sign a contract with a new vendor – one that guarantees the origin of energy from RES – the entire switching procedure is carried out on our behalf. There is no need to involve a technical or IT team, and there is no downtime.
Importantly, the energy law guarantees every customer a so-called standby seller, so even in the event of technical problems we will not be left without electricity.
In recent years, there has been more and more talk about so-called PPAs. What are they in practice and what benefits can they bring to SME companies? Are these solutions only available to large companies?
R.S.: PPAs, or Power Purchase Agreements, are long-term contracts for the purchase of energy directly from a producer – usually from a wind or solar farm. Until recently they were mainly associated with large corporations, but today they are increasingly entering the SME sector as well, especially in the formula of so-called virtual PPAs.
The benefits are concrete: the company gets stable prices for years, gains a guarantee of green energy origin, and can include CO₂ reductions in its ESG report or sustainability strategy. In many cases, PPA is a cheaper source of energy than market prices.
What are dynamic tariffs and how can they help companies – especially SMEs – optimize their energy costs and adapt to the realities of the energy transition?
R.S.: Dynamic tariffs, also known as Time of Use (TOU) tariffs, are a modern model of electricity billing, in which the price of electricity changes depending on the hour. Unlike traditional tariffs with a fixed price, in the dynamic model the energy rate reflects the actual situation in the market – such as the level of demand, production from RES or weather conditions.
The European Union has introduced a series of regulations to help companies take advantage of dynamic electricity tariffs. The biggest changes are introduced by Directive 2019/944 on the Internal Market for Electricity, which is part of the “Clean Energy for All Europeans” Package and aims to create a more competitive, sustainable and integrated electricity market in the EU.
All of the above changes were successively implemented in the Polish Energy Law, as a result, as of August 24, 2024, every electricity seller serving at least 200,000 end-users is required to offer a contract with dynamic pricing, aimed at individual consumers. However, Dynamic Tariffs began to be made available to Polish businesses as early as 2020, allowing companies to more precisely match energy consumption with energy prices.
Does it make sense for a small company to conduct an energy audit? What specific benefits can it bring?
R.S.: Definitely yes. An energy audit is not just an analysis of energy consumption, but first and foremost a roadmap for changes that can save money. Even in small companies we find simple solutions – such as rescheduling machines, better lighting control or introducing automation – that pay for themselves quickly.
In addition, an audit allows you to get the hard data you need when applying for grants or ESG reporting. Today, more and more public tenders and requests for proposals require a demonstration of what a company is doing for the environment – an audit is a solid foundation.
What would you say to entrepreneurs who think green energy is a topic “not for them”? How do you convince skeptical business owners that the energy transition is also within their reach – and their interest?
R.S.: Green energy today is not a fad, but a hard part of business strategy. In the face of rising energy prices, environmental regulations and customer expectations – it’s also a matter of competitiveness and survival in the market.
Especially in the SME sector, it’s not about revolution, but about smart evolution – small, incremental changes that build an advantage for years to come. Energy transformation is simply about better cost planning, improving your image and opening the door to new contracts – especially with large companies, which increasingly expect a “zero” carbon footprint from their suppliers as well. And most important: this path is available to everyone – you just have to take the first step.
The project “Science of Sustainable Development for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises” is co-financed by funds from the state budget, allocated by the Minister of Education and Science, within the framework of the Program “Social Responsibility of Science II”.