In brief

• The Ministry of Energy has prepared a draft act that would make it easier for heating companies to implement innovations and invest in waste heat.
• The draft has been entered in the government's list of legislative works, but there is no finished text yet and no adoption date.
• For construction and installation firms, the changes could shorten the time from decision to implementation, provided they are adopted.

The draft has been entered in the government's work list

On Monday, the draft act prepared by the Ministry of Energy was entered in the list of legislative and programme works of the Council of Ministers (Inwestycje w ciepłownictwo będą łatwiejsze? Resort energii odpowiada – wnp.pl). It assumes simplification of the rules under which heating companies may introduce new technological solutions and experiment with them (Nowe możliwości dla ciepłowni. Będą mogły eksperymentować i odzyskiwać ciepło – portalsamorzadowy.pl) (Resort energii proponuje przepisy, które ułatwią inwestycje w innowacje w ciepłownictwie – nettg.pl).

Waste heat at the centre of the changes

According to the presented assumptions, the act is meant to make it easier to invest in the recovery of waste heat, that is, energy that today often escapes into the environment in industrial processes. The ministry wants heating companies to be able to undertake such projects without the lengthy procedures that until now have delayed their implementation.

Where the project stands

The project is at an early stage. Entry in the list means the document has been scheduled for further work in the government, but there is not yet a text for public consultation or a date for adoption by the Council of Ministers. The final shape of the provisions depends on the subsequent stages of legislation.

Significance for contractors and investors

For construction and installation firms involved in modernising heating networks and building waste heat recovery installations, any simplification of procedures could shorten the time from decision to implementation. For now, however, these are announcements rather than binding regulations.

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