On 29 Nov. 2021, Kraków Water signed a contract with the National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management in Warsaw to implement a project called "Modernization of electric power, heat and biogas management on the premises of the Płaszów Sewage Treatment Plant in Kraków at 3 Kosiarzy St.”. 
This project will be implemented using funds from the European Economic Area Financial Mechanism as part of the Environment, Energy and Climate Change Program. The program area within which the project will be implemented is Renewable Energy, Energy Efficiency, Energy Security.
The direct requirement/outcome of the program is the construction/modernization of district heating systems.

Project Goals

Improving energy efficiency in buildings, industry and municipalities. The measures taken will make the district heating system an "efficient system", i.e. using at least 50% of renewable energy and waste heat for heat production in accordance with Directive 2012/27/EU. The heat will also come in 100% from cogeneration.

The implementation of the Project will contribute to the following outcomes:

• supporting district heating infrastructure
• improving energy efficiency and energy generation in the industry

Project Scope

• conversion of the biogas plant to supply existing and planned cogeneration units by using spherical tanks for storing biogas and averaging its composition over time (instead of cylindrical vessels which have a limited control range (60 to 100%) of tank capacity)
• adding 2 cogeneration modules of 800 kW each, with low-emission engines firing biogas and producing exhaust gas with nitrogen oxide (NOx) content of 250mg/Nm³
• expanding the low-parameter heating network including the planned use of cogeneration heat to heat buildings already connected to the heating network, heating of stations receiving sewage sludge and the planned conversion of substations in an employee welfare building also housing the control room and workshops
• building a low-temperature heating network of buried preinsulated steel pipes in a PEHD jacket
• using waste heat from the sludge incineration plant for heating purposes
• installing a gas (biogas) system supplying cogeneration units
• modernizing the sewage treatment plant electricity system

Cost

The total cost of the project is PLN 12,144,156.54 whereas the co-financing received is worth PLN 4,442,984.10.

About the Funds

EEA funds and Norwegian Funds represent the contribution of Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway to creating a green, competitive and socially inclusive Europe.
There are two general goals: reducing economic and social inequality in Europe and strengthening bilateral relations between donor countries and 15 EU countries from Central and South Europe and the Baltic Sea area. The three donor countries cooperate closely with the EU under the Agreement on the European Economic Area (EEA). The donors have provided EUR 3.3 billion as part of subsequent funding programs in 1994-2014.
EEA Funds and Norwegian Funds for the period 2014-2021 amount to EUR 2.8 billion.
The priorities for this period are:

• 1. Innovation, research, education and competitiveness
• 2. Social inclusion, youth employment and poverty reduction
• 3. Environment, energy, climate change and low-carbon economy
• 4. Culture, civic society, good governance and fundamental rights
• 5. Justice and home affairs.Eligibility for the Funds results from fulfilling criteria set out in the EU Cohesion Fund for Member States with gross national income per capita lower than 90% of the EU average

The EEA and Norwegian Funds Program consist of two financial mechanisms. EEA funds are jointly financed by Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, whose contribution is based on their GDP.
Norwegian Funds are financed exclusively by Norway.

For more information about EEA Funds and Norwegian Funds, go to eeagrants.org.