Renewable Power-to-Heat Hajnówka

While the energy supply sector continues to contribute an enormous share of greenhouse gas emissions, recent years have shown significant progress in decarbonisation efforts. However, this observation calls for a differentiation between sub-sectors: while progress is notable regarding electricity generation, this does not apply to the heating sector. Studies estimate that the heating of buildings and water account for one third of the EU’s emissions, calling for an effective decarbonation of the heating sector. This is true for Poland in particular, which is currently the country with the largest usage of coal in the heating sector. 

Solar Panels in Hajnówka, Photo: @Powiat Hajnówka | Power to Heat-Project

The project team developed a solution to this problem in the pilot region of Hajnówka in eastern Poland. Efforts focused on the introduction of a renewable power-to-heat system which fed the excess electricity of regional wind and solar power stations into Hajnówka’s district heating system. Thus, renewable energy replaces coal, which is used to power the heating system. This has the double advantage of advancing decarbonization while at the same time progressing energy system integration. 

The introduction of a renewable power-to-heat system constituted a technological and economic challenge. As a means of proposing solutions on how to overcome these challenges on the basis of a concrete example, the project team developed a feasibility study. The study identified and addressed concrete barriers which had so far prevented the modernization of the local heating system. These barriers included lack of infrastructure planning capacities, outdated building codes, and lack of skilled labor to install and maintain the systems. By providing solutions to these issues, the study furthermore paved the way for public and private investments, addressing the additional barrier of insufficient financial resources. After the successful completion of the project, the feasibility study could double as a realization plan for fully decarbonized integrated heating systems in other Polish regions. The project also served as a best practice example of how to develop a climate-friendly district heating system. Other regions could replicate this example and thus contribute significantly to the decarbonization of the Polish heating sector.

• Feasibility study on the benefits of switching to power-to-heat: The study conducted as part of the project shows that switching to a power-to-heat system is technically feasible and makes both environmental and economic sense, with the potential to reduce CO₂ emissions by 84 per cent. Despite rising CO₂ prices, heating costs with heat pumps would only increase moderately (approx. 80 euro/MWh), while the costs of the existing coal-fired system would almost double. This underpins the sustainability and economic efficiency of the system change and creates a credible causal link to emissions reduction. 
• Strong local support and sustainable implementation prospects: Regional actors, including mayors and district administrations, actively support the project and are working towards a stepwise conversion of the district heating network to power-to-heat with heat pumps. A company has been commissioned to assess the technical implementation and funding options. 
• Lighthouse effect: The project led to a follow-up initiative in North Macedonia, where a similar feasibility study entitled ‘Green Heating Power for Bitola’ is being carried out. This transfer effect attests to the institutional embedding and sustainable influence of the project at European level.