The 'Capacity Building of the Key Stakeholders in the Area of Geothermal Energy' Project’ was officially opened on February 9th, 2021.

It is addressed to participants from Poland and will be implemented until April 2024 by the Mineral and Energy Economy Research Institute of the Polish Academy of Sciences (MEEERI PAS) and the National Energy Authority of Iceland (Orkustofnun).

The opening of the Project was honoured by Adam Guibourgé-Czetwertyński – Undersecretary of State in the Ministry of Climate and Environment, Maria Erla Marelsdóttir - the ambassador of Iceland – the Donor States of the EEA FM in Poland, Gerard Pokruszyński - ambassador of Poland in Iceland, Artur Sz. Michalski - Vice President of the National Fund for Environment Protection and Water Management. They emphasized the importance of the Project, especially in the light of the activities undertaken in Poland for the development of low-emission geothermal heating. They indicated that the Project provides an opportunity to benefit from Iceland's knowledge and experience and to strengthen cooperation in the field of geothermal energy between the two countries.

In his speech, Mr. Adam Guibourgé-Czetwertyński pointed out that Poland is facing the challenge of energy transformation. The country aims to increase the share of renewable energy sources and improve air quality, and geothermal energy can play a large role in this process.

In turn, Artur Sz. Michalski, vice-president of the National Fund for Environment Protection and Water Management, emphasized that clean air is of key importance for Poland and that it can match other countries in this respect. This will be served by, among others using geothermal energy in heating, and the inaugurated Project will support initiatives in this area.

The Ambassador of Iceland expressed the conviction that the Project will be very helpful both in terms of raising knowledge and future geothermal investments in Poland. example of Iceland shows the importance of geothermal energy in this respect, thanks to which the country has substantially reduced its greenhouse gas emissions. She emphasised the importance of the whole “Environment, Climate Change and Energy” Programme for Iceland and Poland – the Opening Conference of the Programme was attended by both President of Iceland Guðni Th. Jóhannessona and president of Poland Andrzej Duda.

The opening event was also the area to present the geothermal situation of Poland and ongoing calls aiming to increase the share of geothermal energy in polish energy mix such as the call  “Geothermal energy production” held within EEA and Norway grants and the call carried out under Polska Geotermia+ program.

In such a context the main objectives of the predefined  project 'Capacity Building of the Key Stakeholders in the Area of Geothermal Energy' were underlined as crucial in the  knowledge sharing process between Polish and Icelandic entities active in the geothermal field.

Further activities within this project will be carried out later this year. Please, follow our website to get to know more  about them.