The heating period 2025/2026 will bring a revolution that will hit millions of Poles' wallets. The Government’s Fuel Certification Programme entered into forceand its first effects are already felt in coal deposits across the country. The promise to fight smog has its price, and all indicates that it will be paid primarily by owners of coal-heated single-family houses. The cheapest ranges vanish from the market, and the prices of certified fuel soar up. We checked precisely what the fresh regulations mean and how many Poles will gotta spend on heating this winter. For many households, this may mean hard choices and drastic belt tightening.
What precisely does “Certification of Fuel” mean, and why have changes been made?
The fresh regulations introduced by the Minister of Climate and Environment are part of the long-term strategy of fighting for clean air in Poland. Programme ‘Certification of fuel’ aims to destruct the worst quality of solid fuels, which are the main origin of particulate emissions of PM2.5 and PM10. In practice, this means that only coal gathering strict quality standards will be allowed for legal sale.
Each batch of coal entering the retention must have quality certificate, confirming key parameters specified as:
- Fuel value (calority): not little than 24 MJ/kg.
- Ash content: maximum 12%.
- Sulphur content: a maximum of 1.2%.
- Moisture: little than 15%.
What does this mean for the consumer? Fuels like coal, fleet concentrates and lignite intended for households. Although cheap, they were liable for dense, toxic smoke rising over Polish cities and villages. The government argues that this is simply a step essential to defend public wellness and meet EU environmental standards. However, critics point out that the change is being introduced besides rapidly, without an adequate transition period and support for the poorest.
We checked the prices on the stores. Shock is an understatement
The explanation is 1 thing, but the practice verifies everything on fireworks. Our reporters checked prices in respective locations in central and confederate Poland. The conclusions are clear – The era of inexpensive coal is definitely over.. Even in the erstwhile period for a tonne of lower quality coal, frequently without a certificate, you had to pay from 1,300 to 1,600 PLN. Today, these products are no longer available.
Only certified goods, whose prices are much higher, entered their place. A ton of certified ‘nut’ coal must be paid 2200 to 2600 zł. Even more costly is the popular eco-pean whose prices scope PLN 2400-2800 per tonne. This means an increase in the cost of buying fuel by at least 50-70% compared to last year. For a household with an average of 3-4 tonnes of coal per season, this means an additional expenditure of PLN 3000-4000.
– People call, ask, but erstwhile they hear the price, they frequently quit. Many hoped to buy something inexpensive under the counter, but the Trade Inspection checks are now very frequent and no 1 wants to hazard gigantic penalties – tells us anonymously the owner of 1 of the warehouses in Mazowsz. – It's the end of an era. Either you pay for quality or you freeze.
Who will be most affected by the fresh regulations? It's a blow to the weakest.
The fresh regulations, although environmentally sound, will hit the most susceptible groups of society. The main victims of the increases will be owners of older houses with alleged ‘kinders’, which means classless boilers. They were the ones most frequently utilizing the cheapest and at the same time the most emanation fuels, due to the fact that their furnaces were able to burn virtually anything.
Now this group has a dramatic choice. The acquisition of more costly certified coal may exceed their financial capacity, leading to the phenomenon energy poverty. On the another hand, replacing the old boiler with a modern heat origin is an investment of respective or even tens of 1000 zlotys. Despite the existence of programmes specified as Clean Air, many people, especially the aged and residents of tiny towns, have no resources to contribute or face formal barriers.
Social policy experts inform that without additional targeted cover programmes, winter 2025/2026 can be highly hard for hundreds of thousands of Poles. This can besides lead to an increase in illegal practices, specified as waste incineration, which will consequence in a reverse effect to the legislation.
Summary: What to do in a fresh reality?
The introduction of fire certification is simply a fact to be accepted. This means the inevitable end of the era of inexpensive coal heating in Poland and accelerated energy transformation at household level. For millions of Poles the upcoming heating period will be a test of financial endurance.
What can be done in this situation? First of all, the anticipation of obtaining co-financing should be checked as shortly as possible for exchange of heat from government programmes. Secondly, it is worth planning a budget for winter now, taking into account much higher costs of heating. Thirdly, building warming and window sealing are crucial to minimise heat loss. 1 thing is certain – the winter of 2025 will painfully verify how Poland is prepared for real costs of fighting smog.
Continued here:
The government has introduced carbon certification. This is the end of inexpensive heating in Poland
