Activities undertaken by Polish manufacturing companies to reduce air emissions

The emphasis on the need to balance the relations between the economy and the natural environment has been growing in recent years. For individual enterprises, it means considering the environmental protection issues in their activities and switching to environmentally-friendly business practices. The purpose of this paper is to present the activities undertaken and performed by Polish manufacturing companies participating in the European Union Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS) to reduce emissions of contaminants to air and an attempt to determine solutions that could serve as good environmental practices in this aspect. The grounds for the assumed research method were the analysis of secondary sources in the form of environmental statements. Environmental statements were downloaded from the EMAS website. The selection of the sample was targeted, the study was complete and included 13 manufacturing companies from Poland participating in EMAS, according to the register as of February 18, 2021. The findings indicate that Polish enterprises most frequently performed activities that involved using or improvement of technologies to reduce air emissions and implementation of monitoring and emissions measurement systems. The implemented or improved technologies mostly focused on limiting hard coal usage and replacing it with other energy sources, e.g., liquid gas, earth gas, or renewable energy sources. Analyzed enterprises also performed activities with the purpose of process containment, improvement of offered products, or reducing transport-related emissions.

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The Consumption of Renewable Energy Sources (RES) by the European Union Households between 2004 and 2019

Energies ◽

10.3390/en14175560 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 14 (17) ◽

pp. 5560

Author(s):

Marlena Piekut

Keyword(s):

European Union ◽

Renewable Energy ◽

Linear Trend ◽

Renewable Energy Sources ◽

Heat Pumps ◽

Energy Sources ◽

Hard Coal ◽

The European Union ◽

Household Sector ◽

Statistical Measures

The paper provides the analysis of fuel and energy transition in households sector and its sustainable development in the period 2004–2019. The main purpose of the paper is to determine the development trends in the use of renewable energy sources (RES) in the EU countries household sector in 2004–2019, to recognize the state of development and functioning of the studied area as well as to indicate their successes and shortcomings in observed reality. The article employs the results of Energy balance sheets from Eurostat. The research entity were households from 28 European Union countries, with particular emphasis on households from Poland and selected neighboring countries. The research subjects there were different sources of renewable energy used by households, i.e., solar thermal system, geothermal technologies, primary solid biofuels, charcoal, biogases, blended biogasoline, blended biodiesels, ambient heat (heat pumps). To achieve the research objective a number of statistical measures ands methods, including cluster analysis and linear trend indicator applied. In the analyzed 16 years, an absolute and relative increase in the use of RES in the household sector was noticed. Taking into account the specificity of using RES in households, 6 clusters of countries were distinguished. In Poland, it was noted that there was a significant increase in the use of RES in households, with stagnation in the use of non-renewable energy sources, such as, for example, hard coal.

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Objectives of the EU in the field of biomass use and utilisation

Acta Agraria Debreceniensis ◽

10.34101/actaagrar/55/1901 ◽

2014 ◽

pp. 9-12

Author(s):

Zoltán Balla

Keyword(s):

Renewable Energy ◽

Renewable Energy Sources ◽

Energy Sources ◽

Renewable Energy Policy ◽

The European Union ◽

Agricultural Structure ◽

Energy Independence ◽

Reduce Emissions ◽

Development Levels ◽

Further Development

The energy independence very important for the European Union, while simultaneously sparing the natural environment in order to increase the use of renewable energy sources . A further development is the key issue of how renewable energy sources available can be better utilized to improve the efficiency of economic competitiveness. EU renewable energy policy is determined by five principles : The first is the environment, including the carbon dioxide and other pollutants to reduce emissions . The second increase energy security and at the same time reducing dependence on imports. The third aspect of local and regional development. With this realignment of economic and social development levels of different areas they want to achieve. This point is closely related to rural development and create new jobs . The transformation of the agricultural structure is an important aspect , which is that they can reduce the overproduction of food by providing alternative land use options , such as the cultivation of energy crops.

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Polityka klimatyczno-energetyczna Unii Europejskiej

10.31338/1641-2478pe.2.14.6 ◽

2014 ◽

pp. 104-121

Author(s):

Aleksandra Kułaga

Keyword(s):

Negative Impact ◽

Renewable Energy Sources ◽

Energy System ◽

The Other ◽

Energy Sources ◽

Climate Protection ◽

The European Union ◽

Eu Member States ◽

The Subject ◽

Climate And Energy Policy

The article is devoted to the subject of the goals of the climate and energy policy of the European Union, which can have both a positive, and a negative impact on the environmental and energy policies. Positive aspects are the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, diversification of energy supplies, which should improve Europe independence from energy imports, and increasing the share of renewable energy sources (RES) in the national energy system structures. On the other hand, overly ambitious targets and actions can lead to large losses for the economies of EU Member States. The article also highlights the realities prevailing in the international arena and noncompliance of international actors with global agreements on climate protection.

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Relationships between Renewable Energy and the Prevalence of Morbidity in the Countries of the European Union: A Panel Regression Approach

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18126548 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (12) ◽

pp. 6548

Author(s):

Robert Stefko ◽

Beata Gavurova ◽

Miroslav Kelemen ◽

Martin Rigelsky ◽

Viera Ivankova

Keyword(s):

European Union ◽

Renewable Energy ◽

Statistical Methods ◽

Regression Models ◽

Kidney Diseases ◽

Renewable Energy Sources ◽

Energy Sources ◽

Panel Regression ◽

The European Union ◽

Panel Regression Models

The main objective of the presented study was to examine the associations between the use of renewable energy sources in selected sectors (transport, electricity, heating, and cooling) and the prevalence of selected groups of diseases in the European Union, with an emphasis on the application of statistical methods considering the structure of data. The analyses included data on 27 countries of the European Union from 2010 to 2019 published in the Eurostat database and the Global Burden of Disease Study. Panel regression models (pooling model, fixed (within) effects model, random effects model) were primarily used in analytical procedures, in which a panel variable was represented by countries. In most cases, positive and significant associations between the use of renewable energy sources and the prevalence of diseases were confirmed. The results of panel regression models could be generally interpreted as meaning that renewable energy sources are associated with the prevalence of diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and kidney diseases, digestive diseases, musculoskeletal disorders, neoplasms, sense organ diseases, and skin and subcutaneous diseases at a significance level (α) of 0.05 and lower. These findings could be explained by the awareness of the health problem and the response in the form of preference for renewable energy sources. Regarding statistical methods used for country data or for data with a specific structure, it is recommended to use the methods that take this structure into account. The absence of these methods could lead to misleading conclusions.

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Changes in Energy Consumption in Agriculture in the EU Countries

Energies ◽

10.3390/en14061570 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 14 (6) ◽

pp. 1570

Author(s):

Tomasz Rokicki ◽

Aleksandra Perkowska ◽

Bogdan Klepacki ◽

Piotr Bórawski ◽

Aneta Bełdycka-Bórawska ◽

...

Keyword(s):

European Union ◽

Renewable Energy ◽

Energy Consumption ◽

Correlation Coefficient ◽

Renewable Energy Sources ◽

Energy Sources ◽

The European Union ◽

Eu Countries ◽

Research Hypothesis ◽

The Eu

The paper’s main purpose was to identify and present the current situation and changes in energy consumption in agriculture in the European Union (EU) countries. The specific objectives were the determination of the degree of concentration of energy consumption in agriculture in the EU countries, showing the directions of their changes, types of energy used, and changes in this respect, establishing the correlation between energy consumption and changes in the economic and agricultural situation in the EU countries. All member states of the European Union were deliberately selected for research on 31 December 2018 (28 countries). The research period covered the years 2005–2018. The sources of materials were the literature on the subject, and data from Eurostat. Descriptive, tabular, and graphical methods were used to analyze and present materials, dynamics indicators with a stable base, Gini concentration coefficient, concentration analysis using the Lorenz curve, coefficient of variation, Kendall’s tau correlation coefficient, and Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient. A high concentration of energy consumption in agriculture was found in several EU countries, the largest in countries with the largest agricultural sector, i.e., France and Poland. There were practically no changes in the concentration level. Only in the case of renewable energy, a gradual decrease in concentration was visible. More and more countries developed technologies that allow the use of this type of energy. However, the EU countries differed in terms of the structure of the energy sources used. The majority of the basis was liquid fuels, while stable and gaseous fuels were abandoned in favor of electricity and renewable sources—according to which, in the EU countries, the research hypothesis was confirmed: a gradual diversification of energy sources used in agriculture, with a systematic increase in the importance of renewable energy sources. The second research hypothesis was also confirmed, according to which the increase in the consumption of renewable energy in agriculture is closely related to the economy’s parameters. The use of renewable energy is necessary and results from concern for the natural environment. Therefore, economic factors may have a smaller impact.

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The Concept of Multiple Impacts of Renewable Energy Sources: A Critical Review

Energies ◽

10.3390/en14113183 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 14 (11) ◽

pp. 3183

Author(s):

Michaela Makešová ◽

Michaela Valentová

Keyword(s):

Renewable Energy ◽

Energy Policy ◽

Renewable Energy Sources ◽

Energy Sources ◽

The European Union ◽

Multiple Impacts ◽

Energy Field ◽

Full Picture ◽

The Difference ◽

Social Environmental

Reaching climate neutrality by 2050 is one of the main long-term objectives of the European Union climate and energy policy, and renewable energy sources (RES) are integral parts of this transition. RES development results in many effects, direct and indirect, linked to each other, societal, local and individual, i.e., “multiple impacts of RES” (MI RES). These effects need to be carefully assessed and evaluated to obtain the full picture of energy field transformation and its context, and enable further development of RES. Nevertheless, the MI RES concept is often presented misleadingly and its scope varies throughout the literature. This paper provides a literature overview of the methodologies of this concept and presents a new concept of MI RES, respecting the difference between effects resulting from the implementation of RES and ultimate multiple impacts. We have summarized the effects into four groups: economic, social, environmental, and technical, which all lead to group of ultimate multiple impacts. Finally, we provide the complex overview of all MI RES and present the framework, which is used to analyze the multiple impacts and effects of RES and to show how the RES development leads and contributes to these impacts and effects. The concept is recommended to be considered in designing a robust energy policy by decision-makers.

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Regional Diversification of Potential, Production and Efficiency of Use of Biogas and Biomass in Poland

Energies ◽

10.3390/en14030742 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 14 (3) ◽

pp. 742

Author(s):

Grzegorz Ślusarz ◽

Barbara Gołębiewska ◽

Marek Cierpiał-Wolan ◽

Jarosław Gołębiewski ◽

Dariusz Twaróg ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Renewable Energy ◽

Biomass Production ◽

Biogas Production ◽

Renewable Energy Sources ◽

Energy Sources ◽

Efficiency Frontier ◽

The European Union ◽

Production Potential ◽

Solid Biomass ◽

High Share

Energy obtained from renewable sources is an important element of the sustainable development strategy of the European Union and its member states. The aim of this research is, therefore, to assess the potential and use of renewable energy sources and their effectiveness from the regional perspective in Poland. The research covered the years 2012 and 2018. The diversification of production and potential of renewable energy sources was defined on the basis of biogas and biomass. Calculations made using the data envelopment analysis (DEA) method showed that, in 2012, only three voivodeships achieved the highest efficiency in terms of the use of biogas and biomass resources; in 2018, this number increased to four. Comparing the effective units in 2012 and 2018, it can be seen that their efficiency frontier moved upwards by 56% in terms of biogas and 21% in terms of to biomass. Despite a large relative increase in the production of heat from biogas by 99% compared to the production of heat from biomass by 38%, the efficiency frontier for biogas did not change considerably. It was found that the resources of solid biomass are used far more intensively than the resources of biogas. However, in the case of biogas, a significant increase in the utilization of the production potential was observed: from 3.3% in 2012 to 6.4% in 2018, whereas in the same years, the utilization of solid biomass production potential remained at the same level (15.3% in 2012, 15.4% in 2018). It was also observed that, at the level of voivodeships, the utilization of biogas and biomass production potential is negatively correlated with the size of this potential. The combined potential of solid biomass and biogas can cover the demand of each of the studied regions in Poland in terms of thermal energy. The coverage ranges from 104% to 1402%. The results show that when comparing biomass and biogas, the production of both electricity and heat was dominated by solid biomass. Its high share occurred especially in voivodeships characterized by a high share of forest area and a low potential for biogas production (Lubuskie Voivodeship, Zachodniopomorskie Voivodeship).

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Investigating Theoretical PV Energy Generation Patterns with Their Relation to the Power Load Curve in Poland

International Journal of Photoenergy ◽

10.1155/2016/3789840 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 2016 ◽

pp. 1-7 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Jakub Jurasz ◽

Jerzy Mikulik

Keyword(s):

Energy Consumption ◽

Power Plants ◽

Renewable Energy Sources ◽

Daily Basis ◽

Hard Coal ◽

The European Union ◽

Load Curve ◽

Fuel Feed ◽

Power Load ◽

Gross Energy

Polish energy sector is (almost from its origin) dominated by fossil fuel feed power. This situation results from an abundance of relatively cheap coal (hard and lignite). Brown coal due to its nature is the cheapest energy source in Poland. However, hard coal which fuels 60% of polish power plants is picking up on prices and is susceptible to the coal imported from neighboring countries. Forced by the European Union (EU) regulations, Poland is struggling at achieving its goal of reaching 15% of energy consumption from renewable energy sources (RES) by 2020. Over the year 2015, RES covered 11.3% of gross energy consumption but this generation was dominated by solid biomass (over 80%). The aim of this paper was to answer the following research questions: What is the relation of irradiation values to the power load on a yearly and daily basis? and how should photovoltaics (PV) be integrated in the polish power system? Conducted analysis allowed us to state that there exists a negative correlation between power demand and irradiation values on a yearly basis, but this is likely to change in the future. Secondly, on average, daily values of irradiation tend to follow power load curve over the first hours of the day.

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The Role of Renewable Energy Sources in Alleviating Energy Poverty in Households in Poland

Energies ◽

10.3390/en14102957 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 14 (10) ◽

pp. 2957

Author(s):

Agnieszka Biernat-Jarka ◽

Paulina Trębska ◽

Sławomir Jarka

Keyword(s):

Renewable Energy ◽

Positive Impact ◽

Renewable Energy Sources ◽

Energy Sources ◽

The European Union ◽

Public Funds ◽

Energy Poverty ◽

Specific Goal ◽

Reducing Energy

Energy poverty is a problem that affects all member states of the European Union to a varying degree, including Poland, where about 9% of the population is at risk of energy poverty. The article aims to show the changes in energy poverty in Poland in 2010–2018. The specific goal, however, is to evaluate government measures aimed at reducing energy poverty through investments based on renewable energy sources. To present changes in the level of energy poverty in 2010–2018, the authors proposed a new synthetic measure that unifies several different measures used by researchers and allows for a comprehensive assessment of this phenomenon. The conducted research showed that in 2010–2018 there was a slow but visible decrease in the level of energy poverty in Poland. In addition, the article indicates investments in renewable energy sources that may have a positive impact on reducing the scale of energy poverty in Poland. The programs implemented with national and EU public funds, which finance investments in renewable energy sources in Poland, are also presented.

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Advances in Underground Energy Storage for Renewable Energy Sources

Applied Sciences ◽

10.3390/app11115142 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (11) ◽

pp. 5142

Author(s):

Javier Menéndez ◽

Jorge Loredo

Keyword(s):

European Union ◽

Renewable Energy ◽

Energy Storage ◽

Natural Gas ◽

Greenhouse Gas ◽

Fossil Fuels ◽

Renewable Energy Sources ◽

Energy Sources ◽

The European Union ◽

Coal Fuel

The use of fossil fuels (coal, fuel, and natural gas) to generate electricity has been reduced in the European Union during the last few years, involving a significant decrease in greenhouse gas emissions [...]

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