The National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management (NFOŚiGW) will increase the budget of the program “Providing access to thermal waters in Poland” from PLN 300 to 480 million.
Thus, the allocation of the currently ongoing 2nd call for proposals will increase from PLN 70 to 250 million, and at the same time until September 30 this year. the application deadline will be extended.
Due to the fact that the geothermal potential of Poland covers almost half of our country, the interest of local governments in researching thermal water deposits in their area is constantly growing, and then using this renewable energy source in heating apartments, houses, companies and public buildings. Only from the beginning of 2022, the Polish Geological Institute – National Research Institute (PIG – PIB) issued 150 preliminary opinions to municipalities on the occurrence and possibility of managing thermal waters in the indicated locations, 65 of which received positive recommendations. To meet the needs of local governments, at the request of the Minister of Climate and Environment, the National Fund decided to increase increase the budget of the priority program “Providing access to thermal waters in Poland” – from PLN 300 to 480 million.
As part of the ongoing second call for proposals in the program “Providing access to thermal waters in Poland”, the National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management initially allocated PLN 70 million for local governments or their associations for projects in the field of exploration and recognition of underground hot water deposits. Due to the current increase in the budget of the entire program, the amount of money in the current recruitment will also be increased to PLN 250 million. The fact that the competition, which was supposed to run from 3 January to 30 June this year, will also be an additional convenience for the communes, will be extended. Municipalities will have time to submit applications by September 30, 2022. Both decisions are a response to the expectations of potential beneficiaries who need more time to undertake geothermal investments, but above all more financial resources, because the performance of exploratory drillings alone sometimes costs even several million zloty.