Polish Coal Miners Find New Life in Wind Energy

In Poland, former coal miners are retraining as wind turbine technicians as the country shifts away from coal dependence. For decades, coal powered Poland’s economy but now accounts for roughly 50% of its electricity production, down from 90% in 2008.

EDF Power Solutions Poland is facilitating this transition, offering intensive training programs to miners in towns like Gorzyca. The program prepares miners for work at heights, maintenance, and safety procedures.

Having worked in extreme underground environments, the miners are taking to the new challenges seriously. The shift is driven by economic realities, extracting a ton of coal now costs nearly twice as much as importing it, and a broader energy transition.

The Polish government aims for wind and photovoltaic sources to generate 50% of electricity by 2030, and nearly 70% by 2040. With the number of mining jobs falling from 400,000 to 70,000 since the end of the communist era, these retraining programs are vital to ensuring a skilled workforce for the future.