The background for the reallocation of funding is that the carbon capture and storage (CCS) programme could not be implemented as planned.
Under Norway Grants, € 137 million were originally allocated to a CCS programme in Poland. The main aim of the programme was to realise a CCS pilot project in Belchatów, where Europe’s largest coal fuelled thermal power plant complex is located. This was in line with Poland’s and the EU’s climate and energy policy. It was a condition from Norway that the project should be financed in cooperation with the EU.
In January, the Polish government informed that it would not be possible to finance the project with support from the EU within the current funding period. On this background, Norway and Poland negotiated on how to reallocate the amount set aside for the CCS programme.
Measures to combat climate change, such CCS, are an important priority for the EEA and Norway Grants. In the negotiations between Norway and Poland, priority was given to programmes that included objectives to reduce emission of greenhouse gasses or other measures to counter the consequences of global warming.
The € 137 million is reallocated to the following programmes:
Green industry innovation: € 20 million
This will be a new programme in Poland that aims at contributing to increased competitiveness of green enterprises, including greening of existing industries, green innovation and green entrepreneurship. Cooperation between Norwegian and Polish small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) will be prioritised. Innovation Norway will be the programme operator.
Greening industries: € 70 million
The existing programme for energy efficiency will increase with € 70 million to a total of € 145 million. The objective is to reduce CO2 emissions and air pollution from industrial activity.
Research cooperation: € 26 million
The Polish-Norwegian research programme will increase with € 26 million, to a total of € 62.83 million. The programme supports research projects between Norwegian and Polish partners. The additional € 26 million will have a focus on climate change and environment of which up to € 10 million will primarily be allocated to research on CCS technology.
Norwegian-Polish scholarship programme: € 5 million
The programme for scholarships and educational cooperation will increase with € 5 million. The programme paves the way for increased and strengthened cooperation between Norwegian and Polish educational institutions, including exchange of students and staff. The increased allocation will mainly focus on education within environment and climate change.
Public health: € 6 million
The programme Development and Better Adaptation of Health Care to Demographic and Epidemiological trends will increase with € 6 million, to a total of € 58 million. The programme finances measures to improve public health and reduce health inequalities in Poland.
Conservation of cultural and natural heritage: € 10 million
The programme for conservation of important European cultural heritage increases with € 10 million, to a total of € 70 million. From this, € 3 million is set aside to support the new Museum of the History of Polish Jews in Warsaw, Poland.
Read more about these and other programmes in Poland on www.eeagrants.org/poland