International Cooperation Forum “Clean Heat”

The heating sector is one of Poland’s main sources of CO2 emissions and it heavily contributes to air pollution. Poland is home to 33 out of the 50 most polluted cities in Europe. The sector is heavily dependent on coal. A coal phase-out is socially a sensitive issue and funding for more sustainable alternatives has been lacking.

In order to support the transformation of the Polish heating sector, the project developed concepts on low emission heating modernization strategies. The project connected businesses and international experts and used best experiences from Europe. The basic assumption of the project was that the Polish modernisation plan shall contribute to Poland’s energy and climate targets in 2030 and reduce air pollution substantially. Concepts and analyses resulting from the project contributed to the preparation of the Energy and Climate Plan for Poland. On the one hand, Forum Energii analysed the idea of increasing the share of renewable energy in the heating sector. On the other hand, the project also laid the groundwork for further energy efficiency improvement in generation and transmission in the heating sector. Other activities included a review of the economy and efficiency of heating systems. Additionally, the idea of electrification of heating in households in combination with RES development in the power sector was developed. Through the project, Forum Energii was able to demonstrate how district heating and household heating can become climate-neutral.

• Influence on national policy-making: The project's analyses were directly incorporated into the draft of the Polish Ministry of Climate and Environment's Clean Heat Strategy. On this basis, Polish energy policy anchored the goal of ending coal combustion in households by 2030 for the first time. The National Environmental Protection Fund also used the project analyses to prepare a support programme for the decarbonisation of small district heating systems. In this way, the project helped to set the course for the heating transition in Poland 
• Solutions for the municipal heating transition: An Anti-Smog-Roadmap was developed for the city of Żywiec, where over 80 per cent of the heat came from coal. It shows how targeted measures – such as optimised building insulation, coal-free heating solutions and targeted subsidies – can improve air quality, reduce heating costs and tap into investment funds. The roadmap served as a model for other medium-sized cities facing similar challenges. 
• Technical and economic path to decarbonisation: In the report The District Heating Company of the Future, the project shows that 67 per cent of the heat in small district heating systems could come from renewable energies – while saving one billion Polish złoty annually. This is made possible by replacing inefficient coal-fired boilers with heat pumps, modernising networks to low-temperature systems and comprehensive building insulation. Households could reduce their heating costs by up to 60 per cent – a direct contribution to socially acceptable climate protection. 
• Impetus for European legislation: The project results were applied at EU level – as examples of good practice in the proposal for the Renewable Energy Directive (RES 3) and in the discussion on the EU Renovation Wave. The clear translation of complex technical concepts into practical solutions was highlighted as groundbreaking for other Member States.