We do not have to wait for the revision of the EU EPDB directive, which is to be adopted on Tuesday. The Ministry of Environmental Protection has prepared NECP, which already implements the EPDB assumptions. Coal and eco-pea coal heating will be eliminated within 6 years. All newly built houses will be emission-free with a ban on coal heating from 2030.
- In the years 2021-2050 – cumulative number of thermal modernizations (in each building there may be several thermal modernizations in this period), approximately 7.5 million total thermal modernizations were planned, of which: in the years 2021-2030 – 2.4 million; 2031-2040 – 2.7 million; 2041–2050 – 2.4 million.
- In accordance with the NECP for 2027, all buildings with a building primary energy index (EP) greater than 330 kWh/(m2·year),
- The main priority to reduce energy consumption in buildings and houses and improve air quality in Poland is to withdraw coal from households and thermal modernization.
- As we read in the NECP, in accordance with the provisions of the new Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) – all new buildings will have to be constructed to an even higher energy standard, under which only zero-emission buildings will be constructed from 2030.
On March 12 this year, the EU EPDB directive was revised and adopted, which will introduce a revolution in heating and construction of emission-free buildings and houses. Meanwhile, the updated National Energy and Climate Plan (NECP), developed by experts from the Ministry of Environmental Protection, follows the trends set out in the EPDB.
Even though the Ministry of Environmental Protection has presented a preliminary version of the NECP update, it contains a number of solutions that are modeled on the provisions contained in the EPDB directive. It is not surprising that the Ministry of Environmental Protection is clearly trying to adapt standards and plans to European ones.
How will this plan be implemented? By introducing a renovation scenario that is intended to accelerate the construction of zero-emission facilities and houses, with improved energy performance and free from heating with coal and eco-pea coal.
NECP follows a long-term strategy for the renovation of buildings with EPBD
Pursuant to Art. 2a of Directive 2010/31/EU on the energy performance of buildings (the so-called EPBD directive, currently undergoing revision), EU Member States should develop long-term building renovation strategies.
The Ministry of Environmental Protection developed its strategy and documentation, which supplemented the NECP.
Poland The long-term building renovation strategy was submitted to the European Commission in 2022. The NECP specifies actions to achieve high energy efficiency and low emission of buildings in Poland by 2050, which will be in accordance with the EPBD and Fit Photo 55 directives.
According to MkiŚ, achieving the intended goal involves, among others: improving the energy performance of buildings, will have a positive impact on air quality by reducing greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere, and will also have a positive impact on generating new jobs related to the thermal modernization of buildings.
Schedule for comprehensive thermal modernization of buildings by 2030. What’s next?
After analyzing costs and effects, MkiŚ adopted a scenario that provides for widespread shallow thermal modernization with the gradual dissemination of deep, more comprehensive thermal modernization in the perspective of 2030.
As we read in the NECP, shallow thermal modernization consists primarily in replacing a high-emission heat source, such as a coal-fired boiler, the so-called smoke, for an ecological device.
In turn, as we read further in the NECP, deep thermal modernization requires additional actions, such as insulating the building, replacing windows or installing an ecological heat source. The assessment of the economic effectiveness of shallow and deep thermal modernization confirms that in the current market conditions, thermal modernization is profitable in a significant part of buildings.
These definitions are most consistent with the revised EPDB directive, which introduces the concept of deep renovation, which includes the definition of deep thermal modernization.
When planning a national renovation wave, market laws must also be taken into account – too high a national renovation pace will result in unjustified increases in the prices of materials and services, and may also result in unreliable execution, we read in the NECP:
The goal for reducing the energy demand of existing buildings is to perform 7.5 million thermal modernizations by 2050, with the priority being to eliminate the use of coal in residential buildings.
The NECP clearly and precisely defines the expected detailed effects of the implemented renovation scenario:
- By 2027, all buildings with a building primary energy index (EP) greater than 330 kWh/(m2·year);
- by 2035, buildings with an EP index greater than 230 kWh/(m2·year);
- in turn, in 2045, all buildings will have an EP index of no more than 150 kWh/(m2·year).
- by 2050 – 65% of buildings will achieve an EP index of no more than 50 kWh/(m2·year), 22% – from 50 to 90 kWh/(m2year), the remaining 13% of buildings which, for technical or economic reasons, cannot be modernized so deeply will achieve an EP index in the range of 90-150 kWh/(m2·year).
In the years 2021-2050, 751,000 will be thermally modernized. buildings, by 2030 – 236 thousand. buildingsin 2030–2040 – 271 thousand, 2040–2050 – 244 thousand
In the years 2021-2050 – the cumulative number of thermal modernizations (in each building there may be several thermal modernizations during this period), approximately 7.5 million thermal modernizations in total have been planned, with: in 2021-2030 – 2.4 million; 2031-2040 – 2,7 mln; 2041–2050 – 2,4 mln.
– Overall, economically viable thermal modernization potentially allows for reductions in CO emissions2 by over 37 million tons per year, which constitutes approximately 10% of the total annual greenhouse gas emissions in Poland. and to achieve total final energy savings in all residential buildings reaching 147 TWh – we read in the NECP
The Ministry of Infrastructure and Environment assumed that 10 years is the maximum simple payback period for deep thermal modernization in buildings with a poor energy standard based on their own heat source due to the lack of access to the heating network.
How will these ambitious goals regarding thorough, deep thermal modernization of buildings be implemented?
Withdrawal of coal from households and thermal modernization of buildings
The main priority to reduce energy consumption in buildings and houses and improve air quality in Poland is to withdraw coal from households and thermal modernization.
The NECP assumes that the share of deep thermal modernization in the activities carried out will gradually increase with the simultaneous application of phased thermal modernization of other buildings.
Actions as well as support measures will be aimed at ensuring average annual thermal modernization rate of approximately 3.8%with thermal modernization to the level EP not greater than 50 kWh/(m2·year) will be the dominant solution only after 2035, which should provide sufficient time to build appropriate competences and potential among suppliers of necessary technological solutions – we read in the NECP.
As the authors of the NECP add, removing obstacles hindering activities in this sector and providing financial support for the necessary initial investments, as well as in particular for the most energy-intensive buildings, while giving priority to the most cost-effective renovations and actions to combat energy poverty, will be reflected in the planned for Poland to take action.
Emission-free construction from 2030, in accordance with the EPDB directive
As we read in the NECP, in accordance with the provisions of the new Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) – all new buildings will have to be built to an even higher energy standard, within which from 2030 r. only emission-free buildings will be constructed.
Under the provisions of the new directive, EPBDs will be buildings that require no or very little energy and do not generate energy directly on site. no CO emissions2 from fossil fuels and generating no operational greenhouse gas emissions, or generating very small amounts of operational such emissions – we read in the NECP.
Let us remember that according to the revised EPDB directive, “energy from renewable sources” means energy from non-fossil renewable sources, namely:
- wind energy, solar radiation energy (thermal solar energy and photovoltaic energy);
- geothermal energy;
- ambient energy, energy of tides, waves;
- other types of blue energy;
- hydropower;
- energy from biomass (wood, pellets);
- gas from landfills;
- landfill gas;
- gas from sewage treatment plants and from biological sources (biogas).
According to the above information, biomass, including firewood and pellets, are considered renewable energy sources, unlike coal, eco-pea coal, fuel oil and extracted natural gas..
The NECP allows for low emissions from zero-emission buildings only when such buildings are connected to energy-efficient heating systems or even wider use of renewable energy sources.
As part of the use of renewable energy sources, as a basic condition – if it is technically appropriate and feasible from an economic and functional point of view – the requirement to use solar energy installations to supply buildings with energy will be introduced.
The goal in terms of energy demand for new buildings is to ensure that from January 1, 2030, all new buildings constructed in Poland will be emission-free, and in the case of buildings occupied by public authorities’ offices, from January 1, 2028 – we read in the NECP.
