Nowadays, clean coal technologies are the only direction for coal-based Polish power industry. There simply is no other way. Contemporary methods of modern technologies and fight against the green-house effect are very crucial to us. Implementation of them is indeed beneficial. ‘We do not wish to waste Polish coal’, said Jerzy Buzek, the President of the European Parliament during the Clean-Coal Technologies Conference held in Sosnowiec on March 5, 2010.

Therefore, it seems obvious that such technologies should be applied in our sector. Yet it brings about the necessity of huge financial outlays. Carbon capture and storage is one of clean-coal technologies. Professor Buzek claims that decisions made by the Government are key ones in this case adding that Poland has a chance to rank itself as one of the world leaders. Decisions taken today aim at enhancing the efficiency and construction of new power units. According to Professor Buzek one vital decision is still missing, namely the one concerning the cutting-edge technology - the underground carbon dioxide storage.

CCS pilot installations in Poland

There are two projects of great significance to Poland: the first one in Bełchatów and the second in Kędzierzyn-Koźle. These two projects differ fundamentally but both are highly feasible. Both applied for the European Committee co-financing but one needs to emphasize that Kędzierzyn project is unique Europe-wide. No other country submitted a project similar to this one where coal is used for the production of gas which in turn is utilized for the synthesis of artificial fertilizers.

Much depends on the decision to be made concerning Bełchatów project. Delay in the decision making can result in a loss amounting to 180 million euro which is to be granted by the EU. Should this happen, the loss will not affect Polska Grupa Energetyczna as such but entire Poland. This might evoke a misconception that we do not care about the coal and CCS. Surely, one cannot impose anything onto a commercial company but PGE should be aware of the fact that nowadays it represents the whole Polish power sector. It will be a highly difficult task to explain why Poland does not want to make use of the EU financial resources and that the country is not willing to participate in the great technological race which gives Poland a chance to gain in significance.

CO₂ emission vs. global warming?

The question whether carbon dioxide truly causes global warming is still subject to heated debates. Nonetheless, 90 percent of people who deal with the issue directly claim it is so. A severe winter means lack of global warming – this is the most common opinion prevailing e.g. in Poland, Lithuania or Sweden. Yet, we seem to forget that the southern hemisphere has witnessed highest temperatures since decades. Climate issues should be considered on a global scale – the entire planet is much warmer than it used to be. The climate chances should be observed in a reasonable and moderate manner – we will get definitely smarter in few years time. Professor Buzek is convinced that a man greatly participates in the temperature rising adding ‘Then it is worth reducing the emission and implementing clean-coal, sustainable technologies. It should take us several decades. Poland should take part in this technological race as it is a great chance for us.’

EU resources for modern technologies

European Union has allocated circa 50 billion euro for the clean technologies in six different projects. Clean-coal technology is one of them. 7 to 8 billion euro should thus be spent on this technology provided we treat all the projects proportionally. But due to the fact that coal-based power industry takes up over one third of the entire generation of electrical energy Professor Buzek states that even a dozen or so billion euro can be allocated to clean-coal technology projects. But it all depends on power companies.

Which model for Polish power industry?

Above all, we cannot exaggerate glorifying only one type of electrical energy. One has to take into account all possible conditions and possibilities. I am of the opinion that for our country the best model would comprise 15 percent of energy generated in nuclear power plants, 15 percent from renewable energy sources and 70 percent from coal-based power generation but utilizing this raw material in a much better manner than today, concluded Professor Buzek.

(AFC)