Heating must be changed already

Heating in Poland keeps up with power transformation?

Unfortunately not. In heating, it has been talked about transformation for years, but it still remains behind the electricity sector, where much more happens. In the power sector we have, for example, many more decarbonization programs. There is a lack of such programs for heating. We have an amazing resource in Poland – 22,000 km of heating networks. This is one of the largest systems in Europe, but the transformation process is too slow.

Meanwhile, heating costs for the average Kowalski are higher than the costs of electricity consumption. This shows how important it is to accelerate changes.

It is estimated that the cost of heating transformation by 2050 is PLN 460 billion. In what directions do you think the transformation should be aimed at?

The key aspect of decarbonization is obtaining or maintaining the status of an energy effective system, because then it can benefit from support and guarantee connecting new recipients to the network. To obtain this status, it is necessary to increase the share of renewable heat. Currently, it accounts for 12-13 percent. In Polish heating, as much as 97 percent It comes from biomass and part of the biodegradable waste. Another priority is the electrification of heating, i.e. the use of electricity for heat production. Integration with heat storage technologies, which allow flexible management of its delivery, is particularly important here.

Heat batteries (i.e. high temperature water storage installations, which are used during periods of peak heat demand) and electrode boilers are technologies that can play a significant, even key role here.

We will not do without gas, especially in large systems, but let’s not turn off smaller ones either. It is important that ultimately natural gas can be replaced by biomethane or biogas.

Do Polish regulations support this type of investment?

No, and we must create specific solutions and programs supporting them, e.g. increase public support for investments from the current 40 percent. up to at least 60 percent

The full transformation of heating in Poland is real?

We have to start working now. Heating has no time for further delays. Today, there is talk of a departure from coal, which has become very costly due to CO₂ emissions. Earlier, the transition to combined energy production was considered to better use the potential of systems. And the truth is that we need a strategy that will not only take into account decarbonization, but also provide financial and technological support for the entire sector.

Large urban systems and companies preparing for transformation will probably achieve decarbonization goals by 2040. However, poviat heating remains the biggest challenge. Many municipalities and smaller towns do not have funds in the budget or sufficient knowledge to invest in the modernization of their systems.

Therefore, it is necessary to create dedicated programs for local heating systems and the coupling sector – that is, the integration of heating with electricity. Heating transformation also requires heat market deregulation.

Fortum implements a 3D strategy: diversification, decarbonization and digitization.

Correct. Decarbonization is a priority for us – we plan to completely depart from burning coal to the end of 2027. In Częstochowa, we replace local coal with biomass that meets the criteria for sustainable development, and biogenic carbon dioxide captured from the installation can be used for the production of e.g. ESAF aviation fuels. In Zabrze, we maintain the share of alternative fuel RDF (waste fraction not recycling).

Digitization is the second pillar of our strategy – we offer clients tools such as Fortum Monitoring or Fortum Optimum, which allow you to control energy and heat consumption and optimize costs.

Diversification involves a wide view of available local resources. For example, if we can use local biomass or rdf, let’s do it. After all, we produce waste and we will produce it for a long time.