The EU-funded Eko-Municipality project provided grants for residents and public entities to install solar panels, heat pumps and biomass boilers in homes and public buildings in the municipalities of Głuszyca, Niechlów and Nowa Ruda in the Lower Silesian Voivodeship. This contributed to lowering electricity bills and improving air quality, which in turn improved residents’ quality of life and the image of the municipalities.
- 29 May 2019
The project will lead to an improvement in the air quality in the Bystrzyca and Barycz river basins. Thanks to the funding acquired, almost 400 households, including 140 families in Głuszyca alone, will be able to save money on heating and electricity in their household budgets.
Almost 400 households benefitted, of which 140 were in Głuszyca. The aim of the project was to increase the share of renewable energy sources used by these municipalities. The effort helped reduce air pollution from sources lower than 40 m in height – so-called low-stack emissions.
To benefit from the project, residents had to submit an application with the municipal office in Głuszyca. A list of potential recipients was drawn up, and agreements with those selected were concluded. The grant recipients had to choose their own manufacturer and installer for the renewable energy devices. The local communes arranged information sessions for residents, where representatives of companies producing and installing solar panels, biomass boilers or heat pumps could present their offers.
Lowering CO2 emissions
The project was implemented in partnership with the three municipalities and the IntelEko.pl foundation, which had been involved in promoting renewable energy sources for several years.
It covered the installation of 157 grid-connected photovoltaic units to produce electricity (62 3 kW units and 95 5 kW units); 110 air-to-water heat pumps for producing hot water, of which 71 were 2 kW and 39 16 kW units; 40 air-to-air heat pumps for producing heat and one 13 kW geothermal heat pump. A total of 64 biomass boilers ranging in power from 25 kW to 120 kW were also installed.
The renewable energy facilities installed had a total capacity of 4 095 kW, of which 661 kW were for electricity and 3 434 kW for heat. The benefit to the environment was a lowering of CO₂emissions by at least 990.2 tonnes per year.
Improving air quality
The project comes in the context of Poland’s efforts to boost its air quality. According to a European Commission press release issued in December 2015, the country’s high levels of dust particles pose a major risk to public health. In Poland, the daily limit values for PM10 airborne particles had been persistently exceeded in 35 out of 46 air quality zones for at least the previous five years. Additionally, the annual limit values had been persistently exceeded in nine zones, the Commission said. PM10 particles are about one-fifth the width of a human hair. They are found in emissions from industry, traffic, domestic heating and agriculture and can cause asthma, cardiovascular problems, lung cancer and premature deaths. In Poland, the PM10 pollution is predominantly caused by household heating.
The project partner’s goal was to increase use of renewable energy sources, contributing to the protection of the environment by reducing emissions in the municipalities covered. The project helped create interest in investing in alternative, green sources of energy and generated awareness on how everyone can influence the cleanliness of the area in which they live.
Total investment and EU funding
Total investment for the project “Eko-Municipality: Setting Up RES Installations in Municipalities of Głuszyca, Niechlów and Nowa Ruda” is EUR 1 888 336 (PLN 8 069 798), with the EU’s European Regional Development Fund contributing EUR 1 600 355 (PLN 6 839 319) through the “Regional Operational Programme for Lower Silesian Voivodeship” for the 2014-2020 programming period. The investment falls under the priority “Low-carbon economy”.