Working together for a green, competitive and inclusive Europe
Objectives
The ”GREEN HEAT – towards collaborative local decarbonization” project (acronym GREENHEAT) benefits from a € 1,3 m grant from Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway through the EEA Grants. The aim of the project is to contribute to elimination of fossil fuelled boilers in Poland and presenting the feasible scenarios to decarbonise energy systems in Polish households.
Specific objectives:
to conduct the selected Pilot Case, in a chosen community in the city of Legionowo, and develop tailored business model with specific technology recommendations and an indication of potential investors and sources of financing to support the elimination of fossil fuelled boilers;
to develop the methodology for further future implementation based on procedure during Pilot Bussines Case analysis.
Did you know that the main source of air pollution in Poland stems from the low-stack emissions from residential buildings, mainly single-family ones, resulting from the combustion of poor-quality fossil fuels in outdated boilers1?
Work Packages
Tasks realized within the GREENHEAT project are grouped into 4 thematic work packages (WP):
Did you know that Poland faces the problem of bad air quality with huge environmental, social and economic consequences, intertwined with the issue of high energy intensity of the economy2?
Transdisciplinary and participatory knowledge production and exchange: pilot of the local decarbonization process;
Developing methodology to gather an overview of the technologies, energy supply and demand and their spatial distribution in selected pilot in Poland;
Development of financing schemes and business models;
System dynamic modelling; identification and exploration of factors and mechanisms key for elimination of fossil fuel boilers (FFBs) in Poland;
The project approaches the problem in an interdisciplinary way, as change of energy system is treated as a potential vehicle for a social change towards sustainability transitions and development of new business models in energy sector.
Project news
GREENHEAT appearances in the MEDIA
Interview for Business Insider Polska with Sebastian Bykuć,
Head of KEZO Research Centre & Principal Investigator in the GREENHEAT Project (article in Polish) VIEW MORE“Local potential of energy transformation/Lokalny potencjał transformacji energetycznej”
Zuzanna Rucińska, Energia i Recykling 3/2024 (75) (article in Polish)
VIEW MORE
NEWS
GREENHEAT at the Climate Congress of Poland, March 2024
We are pleased to inform you that the GREENHEAT project participated in the Climate Congress of Poland on 19-20 March, 2024 in Warsaw, by organizing a project stand/booth and a dedicated discussion panel entitled “GREEN HEAT: Decarbonization of heating at the local level: challenges, opportunities and best practices for local governments and communities.
We would like to thank all participants to the event, who visited the GREENHEAT project stand on the first day of the Congress for their interests and interesting discussions.
The GREENHEAT project discussion panel, which was devoted to one of the current greatest challenges, i.e. decarbonization of heating, and in particular the decarbonization of individual heat sources, took place on the second day of the Congress. The aim of the meeting was to discuss and exchange experiences regarding expectations, opportunities and barriers to taking local action to decarbonize heating. The moderator of the discussion was prof. Agata Stasik from the Kozminski University, while the panelists included representatives of the world of science, local governments and business:
- Sebastian Bykuć, Institute of Fluid-Flow Machinery Polish Academy of Sciences (IMP PAN), KEZO Research Center of the Polish Academy of Sciences, coordinator of the GREENHEAT project,
- Maciej Galoch, Environmental Engineer, Representative of the Mayor of Legionowo for air quality and low-emission economy,
- Karolina Zubel, CASE – innovative models of financing local government investments,
- Marek Pszonka, Masovian Energy Agency,
- Paweł Grabowski, STAY-ON.
The Climate Congress of Poland and the Central Northern European Climate Summit are an international meeting of experts in the field of sustainable development and innovative technologies, representatives of central administration bodies and international agencies, representatives of cities from Poland and abroad, representatives of embassies, delegates of business and its environment and non-governmental organizations, experts, scientists and journalists.
The Climate Congress of Poland was accompanied by a ceremonial Gala of Energy Transformation Leaders. Every year, the event gathers the heads of the largest energy companies and the most innovative Polish enterprises competing for the title of Energy Transformation Leader for their projects. We are particularly pleased to inform you that in the category of services and other solutions, the project “GREEN HEAT – cooperation for local decarbonization” received a distinction. Prof. Jorg Verstraete received the distinction on behalf of the Institute of Fluid-Flow Machinery of the Polish Academy of Sciences.
Almost 150 experts from Poland and abroad took part in twenty-six discussion panels. The Congress was held thanks to the support of the Partners: Leroy Merlin, AMS, PKO Bank Polski, Łukasiewicz-ITECH, Digital Care, WiseEuropa, Goldbeck Solar, Polenergia, KEZO Centrum Badawcze, Bank Gospodarstwa Krajowego, Veolia, EDP, Saint-Gobain, InPost Green City, Deloitte, Global Wind Consulting, Danone Group, SRS and Enel X.
Over 1,200 people registered to participate in the event, and according to a marketing study, the annual reach of the Climate Congress of Poland is 3 million people in Poland and abroad. The Congress therefore plays an important role in the green transformation process, being an effective platform for distributing knowledge and creating a space for interdisciplinary dialogue.
Source:
https://www.polskikongresklimatyczny.pl/en
Photos: IMP PAN oraz M. Cieszewski (PKK) – photos from the Gala
THE STUDY VISIT OF GREENHEAT PARTNERS IN DENMARK
We are pleased to inform a two-day study tour took place on March 7-8, 2024 that as a part of the GREENHEAT project. It included two visits to heat and power plants and a visit to EMD International A/S company. Participants to this study tour were GREENHEAT project partners – IMP PAN and the Kozminski University, and project stakeholder – Thermal Power Company “PEC Legionowo”.
Participants have first visited a combined heat and power plant in Hvide Sande called „Hvide Sande Fjernvarme A.m.b.A“, a unique CHP plant in Denmark, which due to its excellent management of heat and electricity, can offer its customers the cheapest heat in Denmark. Interestingly, participants of the study visit learned here about the unique Danish business model, where each customer of a heat and power plant is also its owner. A community or cooperative in an area may establish a heating company that builds, manages and expands the local heating system, but cannot make money on the sale of heat. Thanks to this model, residents have a real influence on their heat source, while benefiting from the economies of scale and the possibility of trading electricity on the energy market. The participants of the study visit were surprised by the very small number of staff to manage such a large and important undertaking.
On the HR side, there are 3 operational employees, 1 part-time office employee and 1 part-time service employee. Hvide Sande Fjernvarme A.m.b.A. has been operating since 1963 and has dealt with various types of fuels over the years. In 1994, natural gas cogeneration sources were launched in the heat and power plant. Next, an electric boiler with a capacity of 6 MW was installed in 2011, which draws electricity from the power grid when prices are favorable, and three years later, 9,576 m2 of solar collectors were installed, generating over 10% annual heat production. The heat and power plant also owns three wind turbines with a capacity of 3 MW each, located on a nearby beach (Fig. 1).
In 2019, the electric boiler was moved and expanded (up to 10MW of power) and an air-ammonia heat pump with a capacity of 4.65 MW was built. In 2020, Hvide Sande Fjernvarme was able to produce 92.4% of heat from renewable green energy and also in the same year the heat and power plant received the 2020 District Heating Award – “for implementing a number of green initiatives since 2014 that will reduce CO2 emissions by 97%”.
The next point on the program was visit at the heat and power plant in Ringkøbing – Ringkøbing Fjernvarme. It is a much larger plant, when compared to the previous visit, supplying heat to 4,700 facilities. Established in 1963, has used fuel oil, coal and natural gas in its history. Currently, the heating plant is striving to completely switch to renewable fuels. It managed to resign from coal already in 1993 and in 2010 a solar farm was launched with a capacity of 11 MW of heat under optimal weather conditions – it is the source of 6% of the total heat demand in Ringkøbing. In 2010, an electric boiler with a capacity of 12 MW was also launched, which converts this energy into cheap heat during periods of overproduction from wind turbines. In 2014, a second collector farm was added and currently solar collectors cover 12% of the heat demand. In 2016, a heat pump with a capacity of 4.3 MW was added, powered by electricity and natural gas, which was rebuilt in 2021 and currently no longer uses natural gas and its heating effect is approximately 3.4 MW. The heat and power plant has very ambitious development plans to soon start building a biomass boiler for wood waste generated locally from the wood industry. The heat and power plant hopes to achieve a situation where natural gas will be used only in exceptional circumstances and heat and electricity will come entirely from renewable energy.
On the second day, the participants of the study visit went to Aalborg – a city in the north of the country, where EMD International is located – a company specializing in creating software for managing thermal power plants and creating digital twins of these facilities that support investment planning. Participants learned a lot about Danish’s energy markets and the legal situation that has helped develop district heating networks on such a large scale.
IMP PAN would like to especially thank EMD International for help and support in organization of this event.
Photos: Weronika Radziszewska, IMP PAN
GREENHEAT at ENEX EXPO in Kielce, February 2024
Over 25-years of development has made Kielce the most essential points on the map of Poland’s RES sector, a household name for all energy efficiency and technology aficionados. The Enex Expo attracts companies strongly focused on the development of the power engineering sector. Enex expo offers the opportunity to meet leading manufacturers and distributors as well as see the industry’s latest solutions. ENEX is the place to establish valuable relationships that will pay off in the future. On 7 and 8 February 2024, Kielce exhibition and congress centre became the stage for world premieres and strategic agreements.
Therefore, Sebastian Bykuć from Institute of Fluid-Flow Machinery, Polish Academy of Sciences (IMP PAN) and its KEZO Research Centre, took this splendid networking opportunity and participated in the 26th International Power Industry and Renewable Sources of Energy Fair ENEX, interlinked with “ENERGIA PL Conference”, to present and discuss #GREENHEAT project.
Source: https://www.targikielce.pl/en/enex
Students of AGH University of Kraków learn about GREENHEAT project
A group of 10 students from AGH University of Krakow have visited KEZO Research Centre PAS of the Institute of Fluid-Flow Machinery Polish Academy of Sciences (IMP PAN) on the 24th of January 2024. The aimj of this visit was to learn about projects in the field of smart energy systems and energy transition, that are currently realised by IMP PAN and its KEZO Research Centre.
As a result, they were informed about objectives of the GREENHEAT project, next to other international projects, such as: SERENE H2020 project, SUSTENANCE H2020 project and LOCALISED.
Photos: Weronika Radziszewska, IMP PAN
GREENHEAT at the European Hydrogen Week in Brussels, 2023
Sebastian Bykuć from Institute of Fluid-Flow Machinery, Polish Academy of Sciences (IMP PAN)|KEZO Research Centre PAS participated in the fourth edition of the European Hydrogen Week, which took place place from 20-24 November 2023 in Brussels (Fig. 1).
GREENHEAT at EEA & Norway Grants Contributions to EU Missions, in November 2023
GREENHEAT project was presented at the ”EEA & Norway Grants Contributions to EU Missions” Conference, which was held in Warsaw on 21-22 November 2023.
Sebastian Bykuć from Institute of Fluid-Flow Machinery Polish Academy of Sciences, who is the project coordinator of GREENHEAT participated in the pitch, poster and networking sessions held during the first day of this event.
More info about the conference:
https://missionsconference.eu/Fig. 1 GREENHEAT Partners at the poster session (E.Domke, 2023).
GREENHEAT at “SCIENCE: POLISH PERSPECTIVES Meetup Brussels” event in Belgium
Dr Weronika Radziszewska from KEZO Research Centre PAS|Institute of Fluid-Flow Machinery Polish Academy of Sciences (IMP PAN) participated in the “SCIENCE: POLISH PERSPECTIVES Meetup Brussels” event, which was held on the 9th-10th of March 2023 in Brussels.
Dr Radziszewska took this splendid opportunity to present GREENHEAT during this exceptional networking event.
“SCIENCE: POLISH PERSPECTIVES Meetup Brussels” is a joint initiative of the Polonium Foundation, Polish Science Contact Agency “PolSCA” of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Brussels, the Office of Centre of Research and Development in Brussels – Business & Science Poland and the Embassy of Poland in Brussels.
More about #SPPMeetupBrussels2023:
https://poloniumfoundation.org/meetupbrussels2023It gives us pleasure to inform that on December 13, 2022, the internal meeting of the GRRENHEAT project partners had place, during which the team developed business models and summarized the work of 2022.
GREENHEAT at the RES and New Technologies Security Certification Program and the Trans Regional area “SMART POLAND” Inaugural Conference
It gives us pleasure to note that on the 17th of Jan 2022, Weronika Radziszewska PhD from KEZO Research Centre PAS, gave a presentation introducing GREENHEAT project during the RES and New Technologies Security Certification Program and the Trans Regional area “SMART POLAND” Inaugural Conference (http://www.cboint.pl/).- We are glad to inform that GREENHEAT project was represented at one of the stands (#27 Fundacja KEZO) during event “Święto Organizacji Pozarządowych/Celebration of Non-Governmental Organizations”, which was held on 18.09.2021 in Legionowo, Poland.
VIEW MORE (in Polish) GREENHEAT Inaugural Meeting in KEZO Research Centre
It gives us pleasure to inform that the GREENHEAT Project Inaugural Event took place on 17th of June 2021 in KEZO Research Centre in Warsaw.Presentations were given by representatives of Ministry of Climate and Environment, National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management, Bank Ochrony Środowiska (Environmental Protection Bank) and Legionowo City Hall. Providers of renewable energy technologies, incl. energy storage, were among the participants as well. This meeting can be treated as the first step towards the involvement of national and local Stakeholders of the energy transformation of heating systems in Legionowo and potentially in other Polish cities.
We also invite you to read the article about this event available on the City of Legionowo website:
https://legionowo.pl/a/projekt-green-heat-w-legionowie- Poznan Civic Panel
(link to the online meeting as of 27.03.2021, in Polish)
VIEW MORE | GRAPHIC RECORDING
Did you know that over 30 of the 50 most polluted European cities on the World Health Organization list are located in Poland3?
About EEA Grants
The EEA Grants represent the contribution of Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norwaytowards a green, competitive and inclusive Europe.
There are two overall objectives: reduction of economic and social disparities in Europe, and to strengthen bilateral relations between the donor countries and 15 EU countries in Central and Southern Europe and the Baltics.
The three donor countries cooperate closely with the EU through the Agreement on the European Economic Area (EEA). The donors have provided €3.3 billion through consecutive grant schemes between 1994 and 2014. For the period 2014-2021, the EEA Grants amount to €1.55 billion.
The priorities for this period are:
Innovation, Research, Education and Competitiveness
Social Inclusion, Youth Employment and Poverty Reduction
Environment, Energy, Climate Change and Low Carbon Economy
Culture, Civil Society, Good Governance and Fundamental Rights
Justice and Home Affairs
The EEA Grants are jointly financed by Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, whose contributions are based on their GDP. Eligibility for the Grants mirror the criteria set for the EU Cohesion Fund aimed at member countries where the Gross National Income (GNI) per inhabitant is less than 90% of the EU average.
MORE INFORMATION
www.eog.gov.pl
www.eeagrants.org
Contact
Principal Investigator
Sebastian Bykuć
sbykuc (at) imp.gda.pl
Communication Manager
Ewa Domke
edomke (at) imp.gda.pl
Did you know that according to the European Environment Agency4, the air quality in Poland is one of the worst in Europe?
Publications
Publications
Duda, E., Szulawski, M. & Nowakowska, I. Who cares for the environment? Pro-environmental and political opinions in relation to basic psychological needs. A person-centered approach. Curr Psychol (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/
s12144-024-05767-2 J. Verstraete, W. Radziszewska, K. Kaczmarek-Majer and S. Bykuć, “Combined defuzzification under shared constraint,” in IEEE Transactions on Fuzzy Systems, doi: 10.1109/TFUZZ.2024.3367008.
Amirhossein Hassani, Sebastian Bykuć, Philipp Schneider, Paweł Zawadzki, Patryk Chaja, Núria Castell,
Low-cost sensors and Machine Learning aid in identifying environmental factors affecting particulate matter emitted by household heating,
Atmospheric Environment, Volume 314, 2023, 120108, ISSN 1352-2310, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2023.120108. Duda, E. (2022). Edukacja dla zrównoważonego rozwoju w ujęciu systemowym. Problemy Opiekuńczo-Wychowawcze, 608(3), 21-34. https://doi.org/10.5604/01.
3001.0015.8141 Duda, E., Sawicka, A. (2022). Tackling Air Pollution in Cities with Modelling and Simulation: Remote Group Model Building as an Educational Tool Supporting System Dynamics Modelling. In: Groen, D., de Mulatier, C., Paszynski, M., Krzhizhanovskaya, V.V., Dongarra, J.J., Sloot, P.M.A. (eds) Computational Science – ICCS 2022. ICCS 2022. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol 13352. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-08757-8_25
…update in progress
If in doubt, please check if you are
perhaps one of the GREENHEAT project stakeholders?
a local user of fossil fuel fired boiler in Legionowo (municipal or private owner of a house or a residential building with fossil fuel fired boilers installed)?
the policy maker at the local, regional or national level (with special focus on environmental sector)?
the general public (since air quality concerns everyone)?
are you a service technician/provider, installer, producer and/or distributor of heating devices/renewable energy?
generating waste heat in Legionowo or are you in need for cold?
a representative of a local energy company?
- a local energy company?
a member of a consortium of other local, regional, national or international proj
ect or initiative of similar focus? a representative of a NGOs with environmental interest (
especially those targeting issues related to the air quality)? an environmental journalist from energy and environmental portal of general interest or aimed at professionals?
an unidentified yet stakeholder, that we are still waiting to hear from?
Contact Form
Do you have questions? Do you want to know more? Write to us!