947 400 L of domestic water heated using solar energy
Lower emissions by 4462 tons per year
1737 fewer tons of coal burnt per year
14 048 solar energy users
Environmental education for 5454 persons
Donors: Swiss-Polish Cooperation Programme
Donors: National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management in Warsaw
Donors:Regional Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management in Kraków
85 % of costs funded by a subsidy
Winner of the National Renewable Energy Ranking
We protect the Babiogórski National Park
We protect Babia Góra, a Biosphere Reserve listed by UNESCO
We protect NATURA 2000 areas – Babia Góra, Na Policy and others
Poviat Starosty Office in Sucha Beskidzka, Environment Department
Project justification
I. The problems and needs identified
Very high level of pollution of areas of outstanding natural beauty such as NATURA 2000 areas and the Babiogórski National Park included in UNESCO’s World Network of Biosphere Reserves,
Alarming pollution levels exceeded in February and March 2008, which was confirmed by the studies of the Regional Inspectorate of Environmental Protection in Kraków,
Very high share of low-level emissions from residential buildings in total emissions,
Little accessibility of the gas network as the Suski Poviat has only 84 km of it as provided by the Chief Statistical Office (Subregions Yearbook– p. 185). An even shorter gas network is only in the Tatrzański Poviat (71 km) while in the Poviat of Kraków the gas network is 2581 km long,
60 % of emissions are caused by burning coal while 35 % of emissions are produced by coal-fired power stations. As a general rule, the cheapest coal is used, i.e. the most contaminated with sulphur,
Low income of residents in the Suski Poviat, which amounts to PLN 2303 (EUR 511) per month (Statistical Yearbook – p. 164). To compare, the average income in Kraków is PLN 2995 (EUR 655) while in Germany it is EUR 2636 and EUR 1973 on unqualified positions (Sedlak &Sedlak),
Little share of renewable energy in the poviat’s energy balance, limited access to the appliances using renewable energy sources because of their high price and the low income of residents, location in a mountain valley causes pollution accumulation.
II. Benefits of the project implementation
Better air quality in border areas which are valuable nature sites, i.e. the Babia Góra National Park entered on UNESCO’s CORINE list of nature sanctuaries, 6 areas of NATURA 2000, which will have a positive impact on their functioning,
Pollution reduction within a year by 4 147 t (20 735 t within 5 years), including annual emission reduction of CO2 by 4 092 t, SO2 by 33 t, NOx by 2.3 t and PM by 19.8 t in the border area,
Better quality of life for local residents who will live in the clean environment,
Reduction of the use of conventional fuels: coal by about 1138 t/year, coal necessary to generate electricity in power plants by 569/t/year, gas by 0.0360 million m3/year, fuel oil by 11.78 m3/year,
Increase of the share of solar energy in the national energy balance by 35 279 GJ/year,
Reduction of socio-economic disparities by savings resulting from the use of solar systems, which amount to about PLN 3.3 million/year,
Creation of about 50-100 green jobs,
Reduction of the amount of ash produced as a result of coal burning and transported to the waste tip by 85 t/year,
Better conditions of forests in seepage spring areas – forests make 48.7% of the area of the Suski Poviat,
Greater tourist attractiveness and increase of profits for the local residents working in the tourist industry,
Increase of the environmental awareness of 13 485 persons.
