Expert comments on the effects of ETS2 implementation. "Nobody will be taking gas boilers off the walls"

• The introduction of the ETS2 emissions trading system may mean additional costs for an average family of around PLN 6,000-10,000 during the first three years of the system's operation, and even PLN 24,000-39,000 over the next eight years, depending on the heating source - informs Onet.pl.
• - In the case of households, we are talking about an increase in heating prices by PLN 426-600 per year, of course depending on the area of ​​the house and the number of people living there - says Bartłomiej Orzeł, former government plenipotentiary for Clean Air and representative of the Project Tempo think tank, for Onet.pl.
• Although the increase in costs is to be compensated by the Social Climate Fund, the expert negatively assesses the initially proposed idea, according to which criteria other than the obvious income criterion were adopted. In its current form, the aid would cover only 25 percent of those in need, while using only the income criterion - up to 92 percent.

The EU ETS 2, due to enter into force in 2027, aims to extend the existing emissions trading system to new sectors, including buildings and road transport . It is one of the EU’s steps towards achieving climate neutrality by 2050.

Bartłomiej Orzeł, former government plenipotentiary for Clean Air and representative of the Project Tempo think tank, noted in an interview with Onet.pl that the ETS2 emissions trading system means record costs for Poland .

Since ETS2 assumes charges for CO2 emissions in heating and transport, this means that these charges will also be introduced for individual users - both in the context of heating and transport.

According to independent analyses, the introduction of ETS2 may mean additional costs for an average family of PLN 6,000–10,000 in the first three years of the system's operation, and even PLN 24,000–39,000 over the next eight years , depending on the heating source.

In the case of households, we are talking about an increase in heating prices by PLN 426–600 per year, of course depending on the area of ​​the house , the number of people in it. If we are talking about refueling a car like a Volkswagen Polo, segment B, we are talking about PLN 30 even in additional fees when it comes to fuel . So these will be real costs for households and these costs must be compensated

- said Bartłomiej Orzeł, former government plenipotentiary for Clean Air and representative of the Project Tempo think tank, in an interview with Onet.pl.

In an interview with Onet.pl, Orzeł criticized the first proposal of the Social Climate Fund, which is supposed to compensate for the increase in costs. - Unfortunately, it is very unsuccessful, because it adopted criteria in addition to the obvious income criterion. It was also taken into account that the household must be single-person, and the support must concern a single-family home. The age of the beneficiary was also indicated - in the case of women, they must be above retirement age of 60, men 65 - said Orzeł. According to his estimates, this aid would cover only 25 percent of those in need, while if the income criterion alone was applied - up to 92 percent.

I am unfortunately convinced that with the entry into force of ETS 2 we will face an increase in energy poverty. Regardless of whether we undertake investments, broad investments in thermal modernization, or not

- explained Bartłomiej Orzeł.

According to the expert, Poland should move towards the electrification of heating , primarily through the development of heat pumps.

This could be the technology of the future in Poland, if we are talking about production and it could be the economic engine of our export. We have Polish producers, which we do not have in gas boilers

- emphasized Bartłomiej Orzeł.

In the context of the building directive, Orzeł reassured.

- Nobody will be taking gas boilers off the walls . The building directive does not say that a specific type of stove should be removed from the wall or stopped using it. It talks about fuel - he emphasizes.

He cited Germany as an example, where the "greening" of natural gas is done by adding biomethane, not hydrogen, in the effectiveness of which Barłomiej Orzeł does not believe.

However, the expert warned against the ill-considered installation of heat pumps in houses that are not suitable for this .

There are some houses that we should not thermally modernize at all, pay extra money for fuel to overcome this phenomenon of energy poverty.

- he emphasizes.