Suchergebnisse

The paper presents the results of studies aimed at determining the role of the LEADER Programme in supporting development of rural areas. The analysis was performed on the basis of a case study of the Local Action Group (LAG) "Ziemia Zamojska". We used data from the LAG Office and the information contained in its strategic documents. "Ziemia Zamojska" LAG has received a total of PLN 6064 thousand for the implementation of activities under Axis 4 LEADER, of which more than three-quarters is for Action 413 "Implementing Local Development Strategies." A significant portion of these funds were earmarked for investment projects responding to the immediate needs of the population (community centres, playgrounds, computer rooms with Internet access), which entail greater involvement of local communities. Efficient and effective use of financial resources available to the beneficiaries in the area covered by the local development strategy has a positive impact on the development of such areas and the local community. The opportunities created by financing and independent project implementation improve the quality of life (e.g., through the development of infrastructure), and above all, help to build and strengthen social capital in rural areas.

The aim of the executed research is to determine the influence of harvesting renewable energy on the labour market. Eurostat Databases provided a source of empirical data concerning the amount of produced energy. The number of the employed and the performance of the installed equipment were determined thanks to reports drafted by EurObserv'ER or International Renewable Energy Agency. The following sectors were considered: solid biofuels, biogas, liquid biofuels, geothermal, hydropower, municipal waste, solar photovoltaic, solar thermal and wind power. The research concerned 28 member states of the EU between 2009 and 2015. Such a scope was established due to significant changes on the renewable energy market triggered by the Climate and Energy Package passed by the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union. The number of the working people (directly in the enterprises operating in the field of producing raw energy materials and energy from renewable sources, as well as providing equipment and services within this field) in relation to 1 000 tonnes of oil equivalent of the primary energy obtained in particular sectors of renewable energy sources was used as the performance indicator. Panel estimation was used as means of empirical indication of relations between the variables.

The aim of the study was the evaluation of the absorption of funds from the Cohesion Fund within the Operational Program Infrastructure and Environment for 2007–2013, Priority IX: Environmentally-friendly power infrastructure and power effectiveness, Action 9.4 – Generation of energy from renewable sources. The source material constituted data acquired from the Department of European Funds of the Ministry of Energy (institution implementing the action). The methods of comparative analysis were used for the purpose of the evaluation. The final result of the analyzed action was the performance of 64 facilities in 71 locations for total value of PLN 5 749 million, with co-funding of PLN 1 520 million. Circa 82% of this amount was allocated to 55 investments in "wind power" and the remaining part to 12 biogas plants (9,3%) and 4 power plants powered with solid biomass (8,7%). As a result of the performance of the studied action, the power of the sources generating electric energy increased by 823 MWe, including wind power — by 704 MWe, in plants powered with solid biomass — by 102 MWe, in biogas plants — by 17 MWe. Whereas, in terms of quantity of electric energy projected to be generated within one year, the proportions were slightly different and were as follows: in wind power — 1 790, in biomass power plants 650 GWh, in biogas power plants 144 GWh. Among the studied projects, biomass power plants were characteristic of the most favorable values of investment contributions for 1 MWh of planned production of electric energy. Their average value was much lower than in the case of a biogas plant (by 178%) and wind power plants (220%).

The objective of the study was to assess the economic and ecological efficiency of solar systems used to prepare domestic hot water. The study was carried out at 501 sites in the communes of Gorzków and Rudnik (Krasnystaw County, Lubelskie Voivodship), mainly households, in the years 2014–2015. The results indicate that solar collectors used to prepare domestic hot water and financed by the investors' own resources can be economically efficient, but the payback period for the investment depends on the type and quantity of energy carrier saved. The most beneficial effects were obtained at sites where water was heated using equipment powered by electricity and natural gas. In the case of coal savings, the payback period was longer than the lifespan of the solar installations. The use of solar collectors to heat domestic hot water (DHW) in the Gorzków and Rudnik communes led to a reduction in emissions of CO2, the primary greenhouse gas, as well as other substances. The study shows that the most beneficial cost-effectiveness of CO2 emission reduction was obtained by reducing the use of electricity, while the highest cost-effectiveness indicator was noted for gas installations.

The obligation of renewable energy production and the opportunities for additional large revenue from green certificates has led to an increased interest in biomass derived from imports. During the period under study, imports of biomass to Poland increased nearly eight times: from 423 thousand tons to 3 591 thousand tons. Agro biomass imports showed higher dynamics (1160%), including in particular sunflower husks and sunflower and palm oil cake. During the same period, imports of forest biomass increased by 478%, of mainly firewood and wood chips. By 2007, the vast majority of imported biomass had come from the current European Union countries (nearly 50%, the highest amounts from Lithuania, Latvia, Slovakia and Germany), and the structure of imports was divided roughly evenly into agro and forestry sourced biomass. The introduction of mandatory restrictions on the use of forest biomass resulted in a significant increase in non-forest biomass share in the total imports of biomass, which have also significantly increased from year to year. In the last three years, agro biomass imports from the EU and Ukraine have accounted for almost 65% of total imports of biomass for energy purposes. A dramatic increase has also been observed in the imports of exotic biomass, although in relatively small absolute values: from 0 in 2009 to about 65 thousand tonnes in 2010 and 2011, and to more than 600 thousand tonnes in 2014.