The aim of this study was to identify changes in the Polish heating sector and assess modernization investments in the field of energy transformation. This research covered 30 municipalities in Poland that applied for the II National Competition for Local Government Units for the Most Energy Innovative Local Government. In terms of changes, the analysis covered the years 2002–2021 and in the investment assessment, data from 2021 were used, as well as plans and strategies of enterprises and local governments. To assess planned investments in district heating companies, an original method of assessing social needs and the ability and readiness of enterprises to modernize the infrastructure in the field of heating was developed. It considers the emissivity factor of a heating plant and the assessment of investments by experts according to nine criteria. The method was used to assess changes in the district heating system in 30 municipalities in Poland. The shaping of the energy strategy in Poland is influenced by the climate and energy policy of the European Union (EU), which assumes that by 2040, households and industries will be heated with system heat or low-emission energy sources. Poland is the second-largest district heating market in the European Union, but heat production in the country is dependent on coal, which is why this sector requires transformation in the coming years. Research shows that thermal energy companies modernizing their installations more often use low-emission technologies than zero-emission ones. The main objectives of investments in energy production are the decarbonization of the heating system and a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, as well as social needs in the field of connecting houses and flats to the system networks.

Biogas production within cooperatives and energy clusters that include both food businesses and biogas plants seems to be a good way to both improve financial health and increase energy self-sufficiency. The paper assesses the financial health of more than 2100 food businesses operating during the period of 2014–2020; the analysis was based on data from public statistics. The financial analysis carried out using the ROS (Return on Sale) indicator and the SI for the study (saving indicator) showed that the average SI/ROS increased by more than 2.78-fold over the study period. Moreover, for 185 powiats, the observed growth remained above average over a period of one to five years. The application of the Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) method allowed the relative efficiency of biogas utilization to be calculated at the powiat level (former LAU level 1). It was found that the utilization of biogas potential within cooperatives and energy clusters grouping food businesses is most effective mainly for urban powiats.

Small-scale prosumer installations are playing an increasingly important role in the Polish electricity sector. These primarily include photovoltaic systems and heat pumps installed for internal use. Noticeable losses for individual investors, generated by the power flow mechanism during peak production hours (connection to the grid) and peak demand (drawback from the grid), as well as the issue of fluctuating grid capacity and the observed redispatch procedures for photovoltaic installations, are driving increased interest in equipping home energy installations with energy storage systems, strengthening the aspect of sustainable energy development in this dimension. The impact of energy storage on investment motivation and the actual effects of incorporating it into home energy installations have not yet been sufficiently researched, particularly in Poland. Therefore, the aim of the study was to assess the use of energy storage in home installations as a socio-technical direction of power development at the micro level, in light of the constantly increasing energy demand observed worldwide in line with the challenges of sustainable development. The results of a survey of 206 individual users of power installations equipped with energy storage systems in Poland were used for this study. The research was qualitative and quantitative in nature, with descriptive statistics and a logistic regression model used in the in-depth section, and the findings were supported by PQStat software. The research revealed that the selection of energy storage systems in home power grids is related to the potential for prosumer optimization. On the other hand, they are seen as a path towards increasing energy security at the household level. Supporting this direction of installation development at the micro level is a justified concept for the development of green energy in Poland, socially and environmentally beneficial as well as economically justified, i.e., in line with the trend of sustainable development. The information campaign, combined with financial support for this type of investment, should be continued and strengthened in Poland.

By 2050, Europe will become the first climate-neutral continent according to the vision of the European Union (EU). To tackle this challenge, the EU has scheduled the accomplishment of the 17 goals of the United Nations’s 2030 Agenda, with Goal 7 addressing the energy sector. The role of public policies is fundamental in this case; however, it is insufficient in some areas, e.g., when adopting green energy technologies. The purpose of this article is to identify the economic factors that are necessary to achieve Goal 7 of Agenda 2030. To realize the aim of this study and identify economic factors that are significant for implementing the targets of Goal 7 of the 2030 Agenda, two statistical methods were used: the Pearson linear correlation coefficient and linear regression modeling with a scatter plot to present the relationships. The results of this study confirm that in the EU, the possibility of achieving Goal 7 is dependent on the three economic determinants analyzed, i.e., GDP per capita, unemployment rate, and gross domestic spending on research and development. The analysis revealed that the impact of single economic factors on the realization of all SDG 7 targets is small because no economic factor correlates with even half of SDG 7 indicators.

This article analyses the adaptation strategies adopted by local government units (LGUs) in Poland in response to the energy crisis of 2022–2023. This crisis, caused by geopolitical tensions, rising commodity prices and instability of supply, posed a serious challenge to local authorities. The study used the case study method, and the analysis of data obtained as part of a nationwide survey conducted among 167 local government units, differentiated in terms of the type of commune and the number of inhabitants. The results indicate that the most commonly used measures were investments in renewable energy sources and the modernisation of energy infrastructure. At the same time, nearly half of the surveyed local government units did not have contingency plans in the event of interruptions in energy supply, which reveals significant gaps in crisis management. The article identifies the key factors affecting the effectiveness of the implemented measures and presents recommendations for strengthening the energy resilience of local government units. The study is distinguished by an innovative approach, and the study is one of the first empirical approaches in Poland that combines quantitative data analysis with the case study approach and contributes to the development of local energy policy in conditions of external instability.

Gamification, which uses the mechanisms of games to acquire knowledge and various types of skills to build people’s involvement in a specific activity, is playing an increasingly important role. This study aims to emphasize the importance of gamification in the management process, with particular attention to its use in the educational process. It employs a critical literature review, observation, and case studies, containing an analysis of active gamification-based methods used in teaching management (organization and management) and production management. On the basis of the pilot program MANAGER BOB IN, the game used during the production management course, and the experiences of the authors of the study in creating various games, it can be concluded that it is necessary to allocate more time during organizational classes to explain the principles and benefits of participation in gamification, and to extend the time for the implementation of selected challenges. Information feedback is also important, as is the use of various technical solutions that affect the attractiveness of games and the entire educational process.