In Poland NVE is donor program partner for a program covering environment, energy and climate change. Being a donor program partner means to provide advisory services in all phases of program developments and implementation.
The EEA and Norway Grants 2014-2021 represent funding from Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway to reduce economic and social disparities and strengthen cooperation with 15 (changed to 14 July 2021) EU countries in Central and Southern Europe and the Baltics. For the period 2014- 2021 (extended to April 2024), a total contribution of €2.8 billion has been agreed. In the Memorandums of Understanding (MoU) with the individual countries, the actual allocation is determined. In the MoU was also determined which Norwegian authorities will be the donor program partner (adviser) for the countries’ respective programs.
Strengthening relations between Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway and the beneficiary countries is the other of the two main objectives of the EEA and Norway Grants.
On program level:
The total budget for this energy, climate and environment program in Poland is 165 mill euros - 85 percent from the EEA grants and 15 percent from the polish national budget. The program operator is the Ministry of Climate in Poland.
On project level under the program:
Private businesses, research groups, public sector, and NGOs from the donor and the beneficiary countries are encouraged to establish cooperation for implementing joint projects when applying for projects. NVE as a donor program partner assists in facilitating such project cooperation.
Activities
The work in the first phase of the program period was mostly related to preparatory activities in connection with developing a concept note for the program. The program agreement was signed late 2019.
Two matchmaking events have been held in the first half of 2020; first regarding climate and the environment, then for energy (digitally, because of the corona situation).
10 out of 12 calls have in December 2021 been processed, funds for selected projects allocated and implementation started. The two last calls will be finalized early 2022 (Pellets production and circular economy). NVE has contributed significantly in facilitating Norwegian partnerships in projects, which has yielded results, as many projects have Norwegian partners. Work on bilateral activities will continue in full on the program period until April 2024.
The program is divided into the following areas with separate calls:
- Investments in blue-green infrastructure
- Awareness raising on climate change in schools
- Plans ecosystems – species and habitats protection
- ECO systems, NGO’s.
- Protection against invasive alien species
- Sircular economy
- Energy efficiency in buildings
- Efficient energy cogeneration
- Modernization of municipal heating systems
- Geothermal energy
- Pellets production
- Small scale hydropower