LIFE integrated project in Malopolska officially started!

In the presence of the authorities of the Malopolska Region, the European Commission, invited guests and partners in the Polish Aviation Museum was held kick-off meeting for LIFE integrated project to improve air quality in the Malopolska region. Thanks to the determination of more than 50 municipalities of Malopolska and financial support from the Regional Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management in Krakow, it was possible to run the project, which aims to accelerate the implementation of the Air Quality Plan. It was officially announced that the Silesian Region joined the project, making it possible to undertake common sub-regional actions and initiatives.

Christian Strasser from LIFE Unit presented the expectations of the European Commission against the LIFE integrated projects which are a new instrument for the implementation of the EU strategy to improve the quality of the environment. Guido de Wilt from Air Quality Unit presented the priorities of the EU policy to improve air quality, which serves to protect the residents health.

Partners from the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Belgium shared their experiences in methods of assessing air quality and measures to reduce emissions. Energy advisors of from Regional Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management presented the objectives of the project of advisory support to municipalities and the National Agency for Energy Conservation their planned activities for support Eco-managers in municipalities. President of the Association Krakow Smog Alert presented the planned support for campaign to raise awareness of the residents and Deputy Director of the Regional Environmental Protection Inspectorate presented their monitoring of the implementation of Air Quality Plan in Małopolska. The experiences of ongoing efforts to improve air quality and their connection with the LIFE project were presented by representatives of Krakow, Wadowice and Miechow.

Presentations:

Air quality policy in the European Union – Wilhelmus de Wilt, Air Unit, European Commission

The experience of the Czech Republic in the implementation of measures to improve air quality – Vendula Breburdová, Ministry of the Environment of the Czech Republic

Aims of the LIFE IP Małopolska – Wojciech Kozak, Deputy Marshal of the Małopolska Region (in Polish)

The priorities of air quality actions in Slovakia and planned activities in the project – Jana Krajčovičová, Slovak Hydrometeorological Institute in Bratislava

The role and planned activities of VITO in the project – Clemens Mensink, Lisa Blyth, VITO NV, Belgium

The project of advisory support in energy efficiency and renewable energy sources – Małgorzata Mrugała, President of the Board, Regional Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management in Kraków (in Polish)

Supervision over the implementation of the Air quality plan – Ryszard Listwan, Deputy Director of the Regional Inspectorate for Environmental Protection in Kraków (in Polish)

Priorities of the city of Krakow in improving air quality and planned activities in the project – Witold Śmiałek, Advisor to the President of Krakow for the air quality (in Polish)

The experience of the municipality of Miechów in the implementation of measures to improve air quality and the role in the project – Dariusz Marczewski, Mayor of Miechów (in Polish)

The experience of the municipality of Wadowice in the implementation of measures to improve air quality and the role in the project – Paweł Jodłowski, Municipality of Wadowice (in Polish)

The role and planned activities of the Polish National Energy Conservation Agency in the project – Karolina Loth-Babut, Managing director of the Polish National Energy Conservation Agency (in Polish)

On 22 June 2016 will take place the official kick-off meeting of the LIFE IP Malopolska. The conference will be held in the Polish Aviation Museum in Krakow, John Paul II avenue 39.

To participate in the conference, please contact Małgorzata Musielok, e-mail: malgorzata.musielok@umwm.pl or by phone +48126303594. The conference will be held in Polish and English. Simultaneous translation will be provided.

Conference Agenda

10:00 Registration.

10:30 Welcome – Jacek Krupa, Marshal of the Małopolska Region.

10:45 Opening keynote – Urszula Nowogórska, President of the Regional Parliament of Małopolska.

Session 1

11:00 Expectations of the European Commission towards LIFE integrated projects – Christian Strasser, LIFE Unit, European Commission.

11:20 Air quality policy in the European Union – Wilhelmus de Wilt, Air Unit, European Commission.

11:40 The experience of the Czech Republic in the implementation of measures to improve air quality – Vendula Breburdová, Ministry of the Environment of the Czech Republic.

12:00 Cofee break.

Session 2

12:20 Aims of the LIFE IP Małopolska – Wojciech Kozak, Deputy Marshal of the Małopolska Region.

12:40 The priorities of air quality actions in Slovakia and planned activities in the project – Jana Krajčovičová, Slovak Hydrometeorological Institute in Bratislava.

13:00 The role and planned activities of VITO in the project – Clemens Mensink, Lisa Blyth, VITO NV, Belgium.

13:20 The project of advisory support in energy efficiency and renewable energy sources – Małgorzata Mrugała, President of the Board, Regional Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management in Kraków.

13:40 Supervision over the implementation of the Air quality plan – Ryszard Listwan, Deputy Director of the Regional Inspectorate for Environmental Protection in Kraków.

14:00 Lunch.

Session 3

14:30 Priorities of the city of Krakow in improving air quality and planned activities in the project – Witold Śmiałek, Advisor to the President of Krakow for the air quality.

14:50 The experience of the municipality of Miechów in the implementation of measures to improve air quality and the role in the project – Dariusz Marczewski, Mayor of Miechów.

15:10 The experience of the municipality of Wadowice in the implementation of measures to improve air quality and the role in the project – Paweł Jodłowski, Municipality of Wadowice.

15:30 The role and planned activities of Kraków Smog Alert in the project – Andrzej Guła, Kraków Smog Alert.

15:50 The role and planned activities of the Polish National Energy Conservation Agency in the project – Karolina Loth-Babut, Managing director of the Polish National Energy Conservation Agency.

16:10 Closing.

The criteria for selecting projects for the replacement of heat sources in individual households under the Measure 4.4 “Reduction of Pollution Emissions to Air” of the Regional Operational Program for the Malopolska Region for the years 2014-2020 were determined.

The most important prerequisites for evaluating the submitted projects include:

• Obligation of the final customers to be subject to the energy assessment of the building made prior to the project implementation and the energy modernization of the building within the scope resulting from the aforementioned assessment. If the building has a maximum value of EPH+W (non-renewable primary energy for heating, ventilation and domestic hot water) not greater than 150 kWh / (m² x year) for single-family houses or 135 kWh / (m² x year) for multi-family homes, Energy-efficient retrofitting of the building will not be required. In the case of historic residential buildings, it will be possible not to perform the assessment based on the EPH+W indicator and to specify the minimum range of thermo-modernization works needed.
• Consideration of the project in the Low Carbon Economy Plan for the area, as reviewed and confirmed by the WFOŚiGW in Cracow or the NFEP & WM with respect to the correctness of the preparation of the document.
• Achieving CO₂ emission reduction of at least 30% for the existing installations.
• Using of the right kind of heating systems based on boilers or room heaters burning biomass, coal or gaseous fuels or using renewable energy sources or being connected to the heating network. The supported heating appliances must have the minimum energy efficiency and emission standards set out in the implementing provisions of Directive 2009/125/EC of 21 October 2009 establishing a framework for the setting of ecodesign requirements for energy-related products (the so-called Ecodesign Directive). This requirement applies to all fuels permitted for use in the equipment instructions. In addition, biomass or coal fired boilers must be equipped with an automatic fuel feeder (not for gasification boilers) and must not have any emergency grate or the possibility for mounting it.
• Providing a control system for the operation of the heating devices to fulfill the obligation to dismantle the old boiler, using only a subsidized heating system as a primary source of heat in the building, no unauthorized modifications of a boiler to incinerate waste (e.g. an additional grate),  observing the fuel parameters approved by the device manufacturer and given in the device’s operating instructions, including the end user’s approval of having sampled and inspected the fuel sample parameters, and ensuring proper fuel storage conditions to protect it against damp.
• Ensuring project compliance with district heating network development plans – if the connection to the district heating network is planned by the end of September 2019, the project must include the elimination of the old heat source and the connection to the district heating network.

Additional points will be awarded to projects that provide for connection to the local heating network, environmental awareness activities, the preparation of a shelter program for people who incur increased heating costs of the premises associated with permanent change of heating system and when the project is being implemented in the municipalities in which it is necessary to undertake corrective actions consisting in the liquidation of old non-disposable heating devices and specified in the current Air Quality Plan for the Malopolska Region. The projects that will result in a higher reduction of CO and PM10 and PM2.5 (over 40%) will also be promoted.

The Malopolska Region allocated a total of EUR 420 million for the projects within the Regional Energy Policy, including EUR 100 million for actions aimed at reducing air pollution. The planned start date for the call for grant applications for subregions under sub-measure 4.4.2 Reduction of low emission and 4.4.3 Reduction of low emission (solid fuels) – SPR is Q4 2016.

Resolution of the Management Board of the Malopolska Region on the acceptance of the proposals for the selection criteria of projects within the framework of the 4th priority axis of the ROPMR 2014-2020 Regional energy policy

Schedule of the calls for the applications for co-financing within the Regional Operational Program for the Malopolska Region 2014-2020