Poland’s district heating sector, a European outlier with 64% of heat from coal-fired cogeneration, is heading toward a critical juncture. The planned phase-out of these units between 2030 and 2035 could remove nearly 4.9 GWe of electrical capacity, creating a dual gap in both heat and power supplies, warns the Polish District Heating Association (PTEC).
According to PTEC’s latest report, the full transformation of Poland’s system district heating will require around PLN 466 billion by 2050. The main challenge lies in replacing coal-fired combined heat and power (CHP) plants with gas-fired units or electric heat sources such as heat pumps and electrode boilers. However, the findings suggest that simply switching to electric heating may lead to severe grid congestion.
In a simulation conducted for Rzeszów, substituting the existing 137 MW CHP plant with Power-to-Heat technologies would turn the facility from a power source into a massive electricity consumer. The resulting load could exceed the capacity of the 110 kV grid by up to 137%, potentially causing local blackouts and ripple effects as far as Kielce.
The sector coupling trap
The PTEC report underscores that the rush to electrify heating must be viewed from a system‑wide perspective. As Poland’s electricity grid already faces a looming capacity gap, the sudden disappearance of CHP units would worsen the situation. Marcin Laskowski, president of PTEC and a vice‑president of PGE, explained the dilemma: – Today, when we make large, multi‑billion‑zloty investment decisions, we are effectively moving from coal to gas as a transition fuel. But these are point investments that need careful coordination -.
The report also warns that without sufficient local renewable energy sources – still scarce in regions like Podkarpacie – Power‑to‑Heat installations will have to rely on grid electricity, missing the intended environmental benefits.
Industry calls for regulatory flexibility
PTEC and its member companies are lobbying for several adjustments to the EU Energy Efficiency Directive (EED). They propose lowering the 2035 target for renewable and waste heat in district heating from 35% to 15%, and introducing a special clause in the EU taxonomy to allow gas‑fired units to retain compliance even if zero‑emission gases like biomethane are not yet commercially available. Monika Gruźlewska, PTEC’s director, noted: – We want to declare readiness to use these fuels, but their temporary unavailability should not disqualify our investments under the taxonomy -.
Another key demand is the revision of outdated climate zones that force heating companies to plan for extreme frosts that are becoming increasingly rare due to climate change. The sector also urges the government to redirect approximately PLN 15 billion in unallocated cogeneration premiums into a new auction scheme.
Źródło: WNP.PL, Fot. Liya_Blumesser / Shutterstock
