Ecological warmth

The growing interest in ecological renewable sources of energy can be observed in Elblag. More and more people are taking up cultivation of willow and poplar. The demand for heating using biomass is increasing in the local market. Despite huge supply of coal, the use of renewable energy is preferred nowadays. It results from ecological factors, especially threats connected with the climate changes. That is why energy plants are becoming spread not only in Elblag surroundings but also in the whole Warmia and Mazury Region. Farmers claim the cultivation is profitable as the number of consumers in Elblag is constantly growing.

Many countries use water, wind and biomass energy. The latter is often applied for industrial purposes. Waste material from plants is used in paper production, wood processing and food industries.

In Poland water energy is expensive owing to the influence of huge hydroelectric power stations on water relations and ecology in Polish lowland rivers. Also wind power may be too expensive for investors and consumers. Considering the above, one should assume that the effects in these fields of energy production will not be comparable with these in Norway or in Denmark . Much more far-reaching for us may be energy from biomass combustion. So far biomass has included forest, agriculture and industrial waste. Now biomass produced also from special plant species is becoming more and more significant. It results from legal changes, amendments in energy types classification and EU support for this kind of planting. On the other hand it is caused by the increasing number of consumers who want to heat their houses and companies with ecological and cheap fuel.

The subject has become popular among huge plants, e.g. Elektrocieplownia Elblag (power plant) which has been doing a research for the last few years. Their engagement in biomass energy is inscribed in the sustainable development of the company, integrated with the social needs of its development. The company's executives believe that the favourable economic conditions for this type of production will open soon.

by Ms Agata Zaluska