The Ministry of Environmental Protection has prepared a National Energy and Climate Plan (NECP), in which it wants to introduce a ban on heating houses with coal and eco-pea coal from 2030. However, this ban will not apply in all areas of Poland. A complete ban on the use of coal for home heating is to come into effect in 2040 throughout Poland.
- The Ministry of Environmental Protection wants to phase out coal and eco-pea coal and home heating in suburban and urban agglomerations and urban towns with over 100,000 inhabitants. from 2030, as specified in the initial versions of the NECP and the WEM scenario.
- The Ministry of Environmental Protection strives to increase the number of agglomerations and cities with over 100,000 inhabitants. inhabitants where the value of the average exposure indicator to PM2.5 dust does not exceed the exposure concentration ceiling of 20 μg/m3 – in 2022, there were 25 such agglomerations, and in accordance with the goal set out in the National Ecological Policy 2030, there are to be at least 30 by 2030.
- The Ministry of Environmental Protection has clearly determined that heating houses using eco-pea coal is responsible for low air quality and smog.
- Poland will strive to phase out coal from households by 2040, and in the case of urban areas, even by 2030.
- As we know, the highest concentration of smog occurs on the outskirts of cities, i.e. the so-called suburban areas and it is there that house owners use the most coal and eco-pea coal boilers. Therefore, they will first have to prepare for replacing coal-fired furnaces by 2030.
The National Energy and Climate Plan (NECP) is a key document both for the Polish energy sector and other sectors of the economy. Poland prepared a preliminary version of the NECP update, which was submitted to the European Commission on March 1 this year Broad consultations on the project will begin soon.
The preliminary document presents the first of the two required analytical scenarios, i.e. the baseline scenario (WEM, with existing measures). This preliminary scenario reflects the current assessment of Poland’s possible contribution to achieving the EU’s climate and energy goals for 2030.
The initial versions of the NECP and the WEM scenario specified goals related not only to the introduction of renewable energy sources, but also to the reduction of the use of fossil fuels such as coal or eco-pea coal.
And it is evident from this document that the first priority of the Ministry of Environmental Protection will be the reduction of home heating with coal and eco-pea coal and the phasing out of coal-fired boilers, even by 2030.
The Ministry of Environmental Protection wants greater reduction of gas emissions (GHG) in households
According to the Ministry of Environmental Protection, among stationary sources of fuel combustion (categories 1A1, 1A2, 1A4), the combustion of fuels in 1A4b also has a share of several percent in GHG emissions. Household. In this category, there was also a significant reduction in GHG emissions compared to 1988 (by almost 50%).
As stated by the Ministry of Infrastructure and Environment, it results mainly from the reduction in fuel consumption by over 17%, including primarily hard coal (a decrease of almost 63%), with an increase in the consumption of natural gas by over 86% and a more than 5-fold increase in the consumption of solid biomass.
In the NECP and WEM, the Ministry of Environmental Protection predicts a significant decrease in GHG emissions in category 1A4b Households, by almost 43% in 2020-2030. In the case of this sector, such a significant reduction is also related to a decrease in fuel consumption, mainly hard coal, by 63% by 2030 – stated the Ministry of Culture and Environment in the WEM document
Projected GHG emission reduction (ktCO2eq) in households
| Sector | 2005 | 2010 | 2015 | 2020 | 2025 | 2030 |
| 1A4b Households | 37621,06 | 45248,17 | 36818,66 | 34982,89 | 26234,68 | 19695,62 |
Source: Own study by KOBIZE, IOŚ-PIB
As we can see from the table above, the Ministry of Environmental Protection has quite ambitious plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by households. How does he intend to implement them?
Will the Ministry of Environmental Protection introduce a ban on heating with coal and eco-pea coal from 2030? Where?
Directive 2016/2284/EU on the reduction of national emissions of certain types of atmospheric pollutants (NEC Directive) established obligations for EU countries to reduce emissions of anthropogenic pollutants into the atmosphere.
Poland was obliged to achieve the goals of reducing anthropogenic pollution into the atmosphere in two periods, which cover the years from 2020 to 2029 and from 2030 (relative to the reference year 2005) according to the scheme below.
The greatest problems with inadequate air quality concern urban areas, i.e. large population centers and regions of intensive industrial activity. Exceeding the permissible levels for suspended dust PM10 and PM2.5 and the target level of benzo(a)pyrene remain a significant problem, especially in winter – we read in the NECP.
Additionally, in large urban agglomerations there is a problem of exceeding the permissible level of nitrogen dioxide. Emissions from the combustion of fossil fuels, road transport, industrial production processes and energy are the main sources of air pollutant emissions.
Concentrated areas of residential buildings equipped with individual heat sources using fossil fuels (and, to a lesser extent, solid biomass fuels) and urban areas with high vehicle traffic often struggle with exceedances of air quality standards, therefore requiring special concentration of activities. However, the main source of ammonia emissions in Poland is agriculture – we read in the NECP
This sector is responsible for nearly 96% of total emissions of this pollutant. Two sources dominate here: farm animal excrement and the use of natural and mineral fertilizers on agricultural soils.
Poland declares its intention to reduce atmospheric pollution in accordance with the objectives set out in the NEC directive, although current forecasts indicate that these values will be particularly difficult to achieve for ammonia emissions after 2030.
The use of hard coal in households for heating purposes has a direct impact on air quality, but also affects the needs of hard coal imports and has a negative impact on the energy efficiency of the economy.
Reducing the consumption of hard coal in individual boilers is therefore the most important action to improve air quality in Poland, which is why a goal in this area has been set. Although current forecasts indicate that in 2040, households will use hard coal for heating purposes at the level of approximately 1.1 million – we read in the NECP.
The Ministry of Environmental Protection has clearly determined that heating houses using eco-pea coal is responsible for low air quality and smog. It is therefore not surprising that we read in the NECP document:
Poland will strive to phase out coal from households by 2040, and in the case of urban areas, even in 2030.
It follows from the above that heating with coal and eco-pea coal is to disappear from urban areas by 2030. The Ministry of Environmental Protection wants to ambitiously withdraw this heating from all urban areas, regardless of whether it is Warsaw, Białystok or smaller towns such as Rybnik.
As we know, the highest concentration of smog occurs on the outskirts of cities, i.e. the so-called suburban areas and it is there that house owners use the most coal and eco-pea coal boilers. Therefore, they will first have to prepare for replacing coal-fired furnaces by 2030.
How does the Ministry of Infrastructure and Environment want to phase out coal-fired boilers from suburban areas by 2030?
As we read in the NECP, taking actions related to the reduction of air pollutant emissions from the individual household heating sector will contribute to achieving the goal of improving air quality, in particular through the development of renewable energy sources and increasing energy efficiency, adjusting the quality standards of fuels and combustion installations, transport road and increasing environmental awareness and education.
The activities will be targeted in particular at zones where the permissible levels of PM10 and PM2.5 suspended dust and nitrogen dioxide, as well as the target level of benzo(a)pyrene, are exceeded.
In addition, efforts will be made to increase the number of agglomerations and cities with over 100,000 inhabitants. inhabitants in which value the average exposure to PM2.5 does not exceed the exposure concentration ceiling of 20 μg/m23 – in 2022, there were 25 such agglomerations, and in accordance with the goal set out in the National Ecological Policy 2030, there are to be at least 30 by 2030.
However, the actions specified in the Update of the National Air Protection Program until 2025 (with a perspective until 2030 and 2040) are intended to ensure that in 2030 there are no zones in Poland where there are areas of population exposure to negative effects of air pollution caused by exceeding air quality standards with PM10 and PM2.5 dust.
Additionally, in connection with the finalization of legislative work at the EU level on the draft directive on air quality and cleaner air for Europe, it will be necessary to intensify efforts to prepare new, additional solutions that will accelerate the pace of improvement of air quality in Poland so that it is possible to achieve the goals. the proposed directive.
The current shape of the draft directive on air quality will generate a lot of tasks to be performed not only by the government administration, the services of the Chief Inspectorate of Environmental Protection, but also by various types of local government units.
