The first calls for applications from the Environment, Energy and Climate Change Program are to be launched at the beginning of spring. Enterprises and local governments will be able to apply for subsidies for energy investments. One of the first competitions will concern cogeneration, there will also be calls for renewable energy sources.
Mitigating climate change, improving air quality and reducing CO2 emissions are the main objectives of the Environment, Energy and Climate Change Program launched under the Norwegian and EEA Funds. Agreements on the new Program were signed on February 7, 2020 by climate minister Michał Kurtyka, minister of funds and regional policy Małgorzata Jarosińska-Jedynak and Ambassador of the Kingdom of Norway in Poland Olav Myklebust.
Norwegian and EEA funds help Poland’s transition to a low-carbon economy. For the third time Poland is using this money, transferred by Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein. In this perspective, the Environment, Energy and Climate Change Program received the most – EUR 140 million. In addition, the Polish government contributed almost EUR 25 million.
Norwegian and EEA funds will be distributed in the form of subsidies – it is expected that the co-financing will amount to 45-100 percent. eligible costs. It’s not everything. The National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management, which operates the program, will also offer preferential loans to finance its own contribution. In total, over PLN 1 billion will be available.
The head of the climate department informed that a decision was made to strengthen the results of the Program by allocating an additional EUR 115 million from the National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management (NFOŚiGW) for a loan program for beneficiaries of projects in the “Energy” area.
Norwegian and EEA funds are transferred to Poland as non-returnable support in the form of two financial instruments: the Financial Mechanism of the European Economic Area and the Norwegian Financial Mechanism. These funds come from Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein (donor countries). Poland became a beneficiary of these funds upon accession to the EU.