Veolia unveils a major project to phase out coal in Poland

Veolia unveils a flagship district heating project in Poznań: a multi-energy cogeneration plant that supplies heat to 60% of Poznań's 560,000 residents. Thanks to an innovative technology, it has increased efficiency to 92% and significantly advanced decarbonization, reducing CO₂ emissions by 25%. This historic initiative in the city's coal phase-out strategy paves the way for the establishment of a completely coal-free district heating network by 2030, using biomethane, hydrogen, and other local energy sources.

This is the biggest change in the history of district heating in Poznań, improving air quality, enhancing energy security, and ensuring a stable heat supply for the city's residents.

Poznań – a model of heating network transformation
This project is a perfect example of effective decarbonization in district heating systems. Modern gas-fired cogeneration allows heat and electricity to be produced simultaneously, increasing efficiency and significantly reducing emissions. The new plant ensures stable deliveries and greater flexibility compared to coal-fired units.

In the coming years, Veolia will implement Phase 2 with innovative solutions to further reduce CO₂ emissions and increase the share of recovered and renewable energy, bringing coal consumption down to zero. The global energy leader will develop solutions using residual heat from industrial production, wastewater, and data centers. The next step in the project will be the construction of geothermal heating plants, which will provide a stable and renewable energy source covering approximately 20% of the city's heating needs. By 2030, Poznań's district heating network will be based on a diversified and decentralized energy mix, with coal having been completely eliminated from the energy mix.

A strong support for city’s resilience and energy stability through flexibility
This new unit not only supplies the district heating system but also supports the national power grid (KSE) through a capacity contract, ensuring readiness to operate during peak electricity demand. It strengthens energy security and facilitates the integration of renewable energy sources into the national system, stabilising variable output. Gas-fired, high-efficiency combined heat and power plants respond more quickly to load fluctuations than coal-fired ones, which is crucial in a system based on a growing share of renewable energy sources.