Green certificates as an instrument to support renewable energy in Poland-strengths and weaknesses

The problem of air pollution not only in Poland but also around the world has become an important topic of political, economic, scientific, and legal discourse. Its position is the result of international obligations and Poland's membership in the structures of the European Union. In Poland, air quality is very bad, which makes it one of the countries with the worst air quality indicators in the European Union. One of the methods to reduce this high level of air pollution is to intensify the development of renewable energy sources by introducing effective support mechanisms for investors of new user-friendly and environment-friendly energy. The aim of the article was to analyse the support system for the development of energy production from renewable sources using the so-called "green" certificates of origin mechanism, which in Poland already has a 14-year tradition. The article presents the model of the renewable energy production support system in force in Poland. It pointed to its strengths and weaknesses. The development trends of the RES support system were also presented.