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The sludge generated from wastewater treatment facilities contains high nutrients and is characterized by high heating values. Thus, the sludge enriched with organic matter and nutrients is a potential candidate for its application as fertilizers and an alternate energy feedstock. Nowadays, energy independence contributes to the economic stability of the country, and therefore the search for alternate energy sources is an acute issue. This paper presents a case study on using sewage sludge as an energy feedstock in Poland. The physicochemical characteristics of the sewage sludge are presented. The fuel properties of sewage sludge generated from different waste water treatment plant (WWTP) are summarized. The calorific value of sewage sludge generated in Poland is insufficient for effective use as an energy raw material, therefore, energy potential of mixture of sludge with other waste have been studied. The general trend of sewage sludge formation and the quantitative forecast for the future showed that in 2020, compared to 2012, sludge accumulation increased by 6.9%, but compared to 2019 - decreased by 3%. From 2012 to 2020 the average, sewage sludge accumulation increased annually by 0.8%. This demonstrates the heterogeneity of waste streams for the production of alternative fuels and a modest increase in sewage sludge production in the coming years. This made it possible to prepare several options for the further development of research in the field of developing technologies for obtaining alternative energy. Also this study will help the prospective researchers understand sewage sludge generation and its use as energy feedstock.

By analyzing the Biała Podlaska County resources of the economic infrastructure (distilleries, diaries, fruit and vegetable processing and meat processing factories), the possibilities of the biomass obtaining and creating the biogas plants basing on the agri-food industry waste, were estimated. The stocking of animals was the basis for the assessment of manure and slurry resources that can be subjected to the methane fermentation process. On the basis of the data concerning the surface of the wastelands, located on the Biała Podlaska County territory, the possibilities of the biomass from special crops, were specified. In the Biała Podlaska County, we calculated that there are possibilities of the biomass obtaining for the biogas production: from livestock production (1 475 272 GJ/year), maize cropping in marginal lands (172 875 GJ/year) and wastes and by-products from food industry (51 081 GJ/year). The estimated potential of biogas allows for the construction of several agricultural biogas plants with a capacity of 1 MWe each, often built in Poland. The usage of the identified resources enabling the improvement of the energetic safety and also can contribute to sustainable development of the rural areas and the agriculture.

A comprehensive understanding of the mechanisms associated with the pelletization of an anaerobic digestate is necessary to optimize the pellet production process and achieve better and more sustainable management of the digestate. This work evaluated the digestate behavior during cyclic loading and unloading in a closed matrix. The results presented here are a continuation of those observed in previous work that evaluated the effect of moisture content on the behavior of the digestate under cyclic loading/unloading conditions in a closed matrix. The effect of moisture content on the distribution of permanent and elastic strain energy demonstrated in the previous study was verified in the present work under different loading conditions. A Zwick universal machine was used for the experiments. The samples were loaded with amplitudes of 8, 11, 14, 17, and 20 kN for 10 cycles. Two distinct moisture levels of the digestate—10% and 22%—were analyzed. The results of the present study confirmed that the elastic energy dissipated was independent of the moisture content of the digestate and remained relatively constant for a wide range of the applied loads. Higher values of elastic strain energy were observed for the digestate with higher moisture content only when higher loads were applied. In the range of the studied loads, characteristic differences were noted in loading/unloading curves regardless of the load magnitude. The increase in the applied load led to an increase in pellet strength, but only when the moisture content of the digestate was 10%. The results of the pellet strength reflect well the results of irreversible energy and the conclusions about the area enclosed between loading and unloading curves.

The aim of this study is to analyse the possibilities of use of waste from dairy production to produce electricity and heat in the process of anaerobic digestion. The analysis covers one of the Polish dairies located in Eastern Poland. The amounts of the substrates produced in analyzed dairy plant will enable the production of approx. 14,785 MWh electricity and 57,815 GJ of heat. This will allow the construction of biogas plant with an electrical power of 1.72 MW. The paper has been stated that the construction of biogas plants for environmental and social reasons is beneficial.

Summary Subject and purpose of work: The work concerns the reduction of greenhouse gas emission thanks to renewable energy sources (RES) utilized in selected municipalities of the Lubelskie Province. The aim of the study was to assess the consistency between the tasks provided in low-emission economy plans (LEEP) and the strategic documents on RES, especially biomass. The investment priorities of municipalities regarding RES and the impact of these investments on the emission of CO2 have been presented. Materials and methods: The analysis covered 8 LEEPs and programming documents: EU, national and regional ones concerning RES. Results: EU and Polish policy contribute to the development of RES, including biomass, under the condition that their negative effect on the environment, resulting especially from biomass burning, is limited. Municipalities intend mainly to use solar energy, yet the technologies of biomass they suggest are not always in line with new trends. Conclusions: Measures limiting the emission of greenhouse gases, including the use of RES, are provided in the analysed LEEPs. However, some municipalities intend to produce energy from biomass, mainly in the process of combustion. As this is not in line with the latest EU recommendations, such plans should then be verified.

In this paper, we analysed the pollutant removal efficiency and reliability of a vertical and horizontal flow hybrid constructed wetland (CW) planted with giant miscanthus and Jerusalem artichoke. The wastewater treatment plant, located in south-eastern Poland, treated domestic sewage at an average flow rate of 1.2 m3·d−1. The tests were carried out during. 5-years of operation of the sewage treatment plant (2011–2016). During this period, sewage samples were collected from three stages of wastewater treatment in four seasons (winter – February, spring – May, summer – August, and autumn – November). The following parameters were measured: BOD5, COD, total suspended solids, total nitrogen, and total phosphorus. The average effectiveness of organic pollutant removal expressed by BOD5 and COD was 98.8 and 97.6%, respectively, and the removal efficiency for total suspended solids was 93%. The average values of BOD5, COD, and total suspended solids in wastewater discharged to the receiver were significantly lower than the limit values required in Poland. The efficiency of total nitrogen and total phosphorus removal was 64.1 and 68.1%, respectively, and the average values of these components in the outflow from the treatment plant exceeded the standard levels. A reliability analysis performed using the Weibull probability model showed that the reliability of pollutant removal in the tested CW system was very high for BOD5 and COD (100%). It was also demonstrated that the tested CW did not provide effective elimination of biogenic elements (nitrogen and phosphorus), as evidenced by the low reliability values – 32 and 28%, respectively. The investigated hybrid CW system with giant miscanthus and Jerusalem artichoke removed organic and biogenic pollutants with a similar efficiency as systems using classic plant species such as reed and willow.

This paper is a review of research and experiences related to the application of constructed wetland systems (CWs) in southeastern Poland in 1992–2016. On the basis of literature data, a comparison between pollutant removal efficiencies of one-stage and hybrid CWs was made. Some problems regarding the operation of these treatment plants were also presented. Data from various facilities indicate that one-stage CWs with horizontal or vertical flow were characterised by a quite high (80–89%) efficiency of removal of BOD5, COD and total suspended solids, but were less efficient in removing of biogenic compounds nitrogen and phosphorus – respectively 59 and 66%. Significantly higher removal efficiencies for the basic pollutants (above 92%) were observed in hybrid CWs with a VF–HF bed configuration. Those facilities removed ca. 65% of total nitrogen and 89% of total phosphorus. A statistical analysis revealed that hybrid VF–HF type CWs were characterised by a very high, about 99%, operation reliability. Lower reliabilities were achieved by one-stage CWs, especially those with a VF bed. Twenty five years of research on and experiences in the application of CWs in southeastern Poland indicate that one-stage CWs can be used on a larger scale in Polish conditions in rural areas with a scattered housing structure. Hybrid systems, on the other hand, can be applied successfully in recreational centres or in protected areas, especially in national parks, where a high pollutant removal efficiency is required. It has been shown that the use of hybrid CWs is consistent with the idea of sustainable development.

Summarization: Biogas development is expected to contribute to the National Recovery and Resilience plan to overcome the COVID-19 shock. Estimation of the agricultural biogas potential in economic terms can contribute to refining policies inciting effective sector development. In this paper, we attempt to do so by modeling a biogas chain from dedicated crops and livestock waste. This was achieved by coupling farming models to the biogas industry in a partial equilibrium framework. This allows for a comprehensive investigation of alternative measures in technology, size, spatial distribution and land use change. The integrated model was implemented in Lubelskie for the previous policy (green certificates) and the current policy (auction market). In both cases, the bottom-up profit driven optimization resulted in approximately 40 MWel, which shows a robust economic potential more than four times the biogas sector’s actual capacity in the region, also providing the detailed structure of the sector. When focusing on the industry structure, both scenarios give similar results regarding 1–2 MWel plant size close to the observed situation. The model also suggests a large number of new facilities

The paper presents the results of a study of selected parameters of common osier (Salix viminalis) biomass sampled annually, over a 12-year period, from a constructed wetland wastewater treatment plant. The focus of the study was on parameters that were relevant to biomass energy management. The study was conducted in a constructed wetland wastewater treatment plant consisting of one horizontal flow bed with a total area of 186 m2, planted with osier willows. The following biomass parameters were analysed: biomass yield, volume, humidity, ash content, higher and lower heating values, and contents of N, P, K in different parts of plant stems. The study showed that osier biomass harvested from the investigated constructed wetland system could be used as an energy source in thermochemical processes. The higher and lower heating values were similar to those obtained by other authors (18.13 and 17.38 MJ·kg−1, respectively). The energy yield (17.49 MJ·m−2) and energy density (3486–5411 MJ·m−3) were also calculated. Young shoot parts had higher ash and micronutrient contents and lower energy parameters than old parts.

A three-year river monitoring was carried out in the Bystrzyca River catchment (Poland) dominated by arable areas and wastewater treatment plants. The concentrations of potassium (K) – “a neglected nutrient” – in fresh waters were determined. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) and principal component analysis (PCA) showed spatial and seasonal variability in potassium concentrations. The highest potassium levels were observed in sites located directly below the outlet of the sewage treatment plant of Lublin. The impact of smaller sewage treatment plants on the water quality of the Bystrzyca River was low. Contents of K+ in waters situated in areas experiencing crop and animal production were significantly lower in comparison to ‘sewage’ points. There was a differentiation of correlations between concentrations of K and NH4-N, NO3-N and PO4-P depending on the source of pollution. The potassium levels in river waters usually decreased in early spring.

The investigations were carried out in six small mid-forest peat bogs with active peat-forming processes, all situated in the Lublin region (Eastern Poland). The bogs represented two floristically different types of peatland: raised bogs and transitional mires species composition analysis and specific chemistry analysis (pH, Eh, carbon content, N, P, Mg, Na, Ca, Mn, Fe, dehydrogenase activity and water level) were performed. The plant assotiations/communities of the peat bogs represented three phytosociological classes: Scheuchzerio-Caricetea nigrae, Oxycocco-Sphagnetea, and Vaccinio-Piceetea. The analysis of redox potential measured in the different communities revealed differences in the Eh values between these phytocoenoses (p

This paper aims to analyze the variability of the surface and ground water levels in Ambona peatlands. The depth at which the ground water table occurred was studied with reference to the adopted land drainage standards. The studies were carried out in 2009/10–2015/16 for natural and regulated water outflows. The analysis of annual total precipitation suggests that in the analyzed period some years were very wet (2009/10 and 2013/14), some were wet (2010/11, 2012/13 and 2015/16), one year was dry (2014/15) and one year was normal (2011/12). The 7-year average seasonal precipitation amounted to 598 mm, which was 71 mm higher than the average precipitation recorded in 30 years. The level of water in the river under adjustable outflow conditions ranged from 55 to 77 cm. The level of water under natural outflow ranged from 18 to 49 cm. In the area with adjustable outflow, the average draining depth was 47 cm. In the remaining area, not covered by the irrigation system, the draining depth was 64 cm. Additionally, the dynamics of variance in the water level under natural outflow conditions was clearly higher.

The aim of this paper is to present the current state of water and sewage management in the communes where the Roztocze National Park (RNP) is located. The park is located in Lubelskie voivodship, in the territory of four communes: Zamość, Zwierzyniec, Adamów and Józefów, while its buffer zone is located in the communes of Krasnobród, Tereszpol and Szczebrzeszyn. The paper uses data from surveys conducted in these municipalities in 2016. On average, 68.9% of the population used the water supply system in the municipalities surveyed, while 33.4% of the inhabitants had the possibility of discharging sewage to the sewerage system. In the area of the communes, there are 10 collective, mechanical and biological wastewater treatment plants with a capacity exceeding 5 m 3 ·d -1 . The households which are not connected to the sewage network discharge wastewater mainly to non-return tanks. Four out of the seven surveyed communities had 64 domestic sewage treatment plants, including 60 systems with infiltration drainage, which do not ensure high efficiency of removing pollution and may even contribute to the degradation of groundwater quality. In order to solve the existing problems in the area of sewage and water management occurring in the communes where the Roztocze National Park is located, it is necessary to further develop collective sewage systems and equip the areas with dispersed buildings with highly efficient, residential sewage treatment plants, e.g. constructed wetlands.

This paper aims to analyze the variability of the levels of surface and ground water in the Ochożanka basin. The depth at which the ground water table occurred was studied with reference to the adopted land drainage standards. The studies were carried out in 2009/2010–2014/2015 for natural and regulated water outflows. The analysis of annual total precipitation in the analyzed period some years were very wet (2009/2010 and 2013/2014), some of them were wet (2010/2011, 2012/2013), one year was dry (2014/2015) and one year was normal (2011/2012). The six-year average seasonal precipitation amounted to 593 mm, which was 66 mm higher than average precipitation recorded in 30 years. Under regulated outflow conditions the level of water in the river ranged from 55 to 77 cm. The level of water under natural outflow ranged from 18 to 49 cm. In the area with regulated outflow the average ground water level was 47 cm. In the remaining area of drainage system ground water level was 67 cm. Also, the dynamics of variance in the water level under natural outflow conditions was clearly higher.

Hydropower plants in Poland currently use only 19% of the river’s energy potential. Development of hydropower is limited by environmental regulations as well as by economic grounds. From the environmental point of view, it is desirable to build small hydropower plants integrated into the local landscape. This paper presents results of the research aimed at estimating the amount of energy that could be produced in the case of small hydroelectric power plants on weirs existing on the Tyśmienica River. There is also a legal framework that should be adapted at hydropower development. It was calculated that the technical capacity of the small hydropower plants that could be built on 4 existing weirs, is 0.131 MW. These power plants could produce 786 MWh of electricity per year. The economic efficiency of this production is currently difficult to assess, because a new support system for renewable energy sources is currently being implemented, which will be a decisive factor for entrepreneurs. It should be borne in mind that potential investments will be made in protected areas within the Natura 2000 network, which may limit their constructing or impose the obligation to assess their impact on selected environmental elements. Location within the protective area does not eliminate such investments, especially when solutions with the least possible environmental impact are used.

The aim of the work is to present the current state of water and wastewater management in the municipalities where the Polesie National Park (PNP) is located. The PNP is situated in Lublin Voivodeship, in the area of six municipalities: Sosnowica, Hańsk, Urszulin, Stary Brus, Wierzbica and Ludwin. The data used in this paper, were obtained on the basis of the surveys conducted in these municipalities in 2016 by the Department of Environmental Engineering and Geodesy of the University of Life Sciences in Lublin. In the analyzed communes, there was a very large disproportion between the usage of sewerage and the water supply network. It has been shown that 79.1% of the inhabitants living in the afore-mentioned communes used the water supply network and only 22.5% of them used sewerage. In the discussed communities there are 9 collective, mechanical and biological wastewater treatment plants with a capacity of over 5 m3d-1. On the farms located in the scattered areas, which are not connected to the sewerage, wastewater is discharged mainly to the septic tanks. In four out of the six analyzed municipalities, there were 2345 septic tanks registered. Domestic sewage from some farms is purified in household wastewater treatment plants (395 pieces). The plants with the drainage systems are prevalent (84.9%), which may contribute to the groundwater quality degradation. In order to protect the natural environment within the communes that form the PNP, it is necessary to undertake the actions that will contribute to the improvement of the current state of water and wastewater management. While solving the existing problems related to water supply and wastewater treatment, it is strongly required to adhere to the principle of sustainable development and use highly effective systems in order to ensure that the ecological effects are appropriate.

Manufacturing units, which use biomass for combustion and cofiring, are obliged to increase the amount of biomass from agricultural sources gradually in place of timber biomass from forests. Many different species of trees that grow on arable land, bushes, grasses or perennials can be used for energy aims. A huge variety of plants, that give biomass useful in the power industry, is connected with a big diversity of physical characteristics (hardness, specific gravity, moisture content, porosity) and chemical composition. It significantly affects not only the biomass calorific value but also the condition of the boilers in which it is burnt. This paper presents the results of the research concerning the influence of the process of combustion biomass from seven plant species on the boilers fouling on the basis of ash chemical composition. The indicators that we used for the analysis were: boilers slagging, the tendency of fuel to form impurities, sintering and agglomeration. There was shown a significant variation in the content of alkalies, that cause the formation of sediment on the boilers heating surfaces. The smallest risk of heating boilers fouling is associated with perennial grasses incineration, especially the ones from the Miscanthus species, that contain significant quantities of silicon monoxide, which is responsible for the heating surfaces erosion. The usage of polycarpic plants as Virginia mallow or Jerusalem artichoke may cause pollution deposition and reduce the efficiency of boilers to the greatest degree. Because of the fact that biomass of different plant species show the diversity of energy parameters and tendencies to foul boilers there is a need to select the material to the combustion carefully and also blends of biomass raw materials (or biomass with coal) should be composed so that they are adapted to the boiler parameters and to the conditions of the combustion process.

Subject and purpose of work: The aim of the study is to identify methodological problems, which may be encountered during the preparation of the energy balance of a territorial unit, along with indications of ways to solve them. Materials and methods: Problems were identified during the preparation of the energy balance for two selected rural communes and then they were investigated with reference to the literature on this subject. Results: Estimating the energy demand of a local government unit requires proper identification of the groups of energy consumers, divided into facilities owned or co-owned by communes and ones independent from commune authorities. The latter group is divided further, into households, businesses, farms. For each of the users different methods of obtaining data may be needed: a survey and analysis of statistical data, analysis of financial documents, evaluation of the buildings’ age. Generally, however, preparing an energy balance statement requires many simultaneous approaches, and the combination of multi-criterion analysis provides the most reliable picture of the problem. Conclusions: The scope of the data needed to compile an energy balance statement for local government units, depends on the purpose of the developed analysis. Methodological handbooks and training materials on this subject are helpful, but the developed methodologies may need to be modified and adapted to specific conditions.

The article presents the results of a study on multiflora rose, one of the energy crop plants. The yield of aerial parts was determined in a field experiment, and the calorific value and chemical composition of the biomass were determined in laboratory tests. The results were used to calculate the amount of hard coal that can be replaced by multiflora rose biomass and the air pollution emissions from combustion of coal and multiflora rose. Combustion of multiflora rose biomass from an area of 1 ha in place of hard coal with equivalent energy value was found able to reduce emissions of SO2 by 98.9%, NO2 by 27.8%, particulates by over 18% and CO by 8.5%. The actual CO2 emissions from biomass combustion proved somewhat higher than in the case of coal; however, carbon dioxide emitted into the atmosphere during combustion of plant biomass is equal to the amount taken in by the plants during their growing period. Therefore the CO2 emissions are considered to be zero.

In recent years, constructed wetland systems are used widely for the purification of small amounts of wastewater because they provide very high effects of removing impurities. The existing research results show that constructed wetland systems can be used not only for highly efficient wastewater treatment, but at the same time in order to produce biomass for energy purposes. The aim of this paper was to determine the possibilities of energy use of the plants: common reed, willow, Jerusalem artichoke, giant miscanthus, obtained from constructed wetland system. The yield of common reed was the highest compared to the other plant species used in analyzed object and amounted to 13.6 Mg DM ha −1 and then 8.7 Mg DM ha −1 for willow. The lowest dry matter yield was 5.9 Mg DM ha −1 in the case of Jerusalem artichoke. High Heating Value was similar in all analyzed plants (17.9–19.2 MJ kg −1 ), the highest results were obtained from willow. Biomethane production during anaerobic digestion was the highest from common reed (108 m 3 Mg −1 FM) and the lowest from Jerusalem artichoke (66 m 3 Mg −1 FM). The methane concentration in biogas was rather low (50.9–54.9) comparing to other typical substrates for biogas production.

Although cow manure is a valuable natural fertilizer, it is also a source of extreme greenhouse gas emissions, mainly methane. For this reason, this study aims to determine the impact of investments in a biogas plant on the energy and economic aspects of the operation of a dairy farm. A farm with a breeding size of 600 livestock units (LSU) was adopted for the analysis. In order to reach the paper’s aim, the analysis of two different scenarios of dairy farm functioning (conventional–only milk production, and modern–with biogas plant exploitation) was conducted. The analysis showed that the investment in biogas plant operations at a dairy farm and in using cow manure as one of the main substrates is a more profitable scenario compared to traditional dairy farming. Taking into account the actual Polish subsidies for electricity produced by small biogas plants, the scenario with a functioning biogas plant with a capacity of 500 kW brings €332,000/a more profit compared to the conventional scenario, even when taking into account additional costs, including the purchase of straw to ensure a continuous operation of the installation. Besides, in the traditional scenario, building a biogas plant allows for an almost complete reduction of greenhouse gas emissions during manure storage.

The typical tests of biogas efficiency require a great deal of time and are quite expensive. Thus, there is a necessity to develop tools for estimating the energy value of silage more quickly. This paper describes the application of a prediction model based on artificial neural networks to estimate the methane production from various substrates in the form of silages. For this prediction, basic silage parameters were used. The learning file contained input data such as the kind of silage, pH, dry matter, organic dry matter, conductivity and fermentation time. The output data in the database sheet contained the cumulative methane production. The prediction model of methane production that was created was a Radial Basis Function (RBF) with 5 inputs, 2 neurons in a hidden layer and 1 output. However, the resulting optimal prediction model has 73% of the quality of the network with a Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) less than 3%. This is a satisfying result, which can be increased significantly by enhancing the model with the addition of a new analysis of silages. The RBF model created can help to estimate the energy value of different silages quickly and without the necessity of expensive, long-term analysis.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the nitrogen removal and its effects on the plant’s growth and leaves morphology. using two subsurface vertical flow (VF bed), with different depths (0.24 m2 × 0.70 m; 0.24 m2 × 0.35 m) and nitrogen load increments. The VF bed were planted with Vetiveria zizanioides, filled with light expanded clay aggregates (Leca®NR 10/20) and fed in parallel mode with synthetic wastewater. High ammonium nitrogen concentration ([NH4 +–N] from 68 ± 3 to 290 ± 8 mg L−1) was used without toxicity symptoms in plants, although the effects of ammonium nitrogen load were stopped the growth of the plants. Significant differences between ammonium nitrogen removed in each VF bed obtained for total nitrogen (TNinfl.) ≥ 27 ± 0.8 g m−2 d−1. The nitrification was contributed to ammonium nitrogen removal because was found higher values of nitrate and nitrite in the effluent. These values were more higher in VF bed 1 than in the VF bed 2, since ammonium nitrogen removal were also more higher in VF bed 1 than in the VF bed 2. Total nitrogen mass balance was carried out and the results show that the nitrification/denitrification process occurred with nitrogen plants uptake. It was observed that the VF bed depth has an influence on all nitrogen removal processes. As higher the depth root system it is seemed to favour the creation of zones with different oxidations conditions that allow the nitrogen compounds to be removed intensively.

In this paper, the pollutant removal efficiency and the reliability of a vertical and horizontal flow hybrid constructed wetland (CW) planted with common reed, manna grass, and Virginia mallow were analyzed. The wastewater treatment plant, located in south-eastern Poland, treated domestic sewage at an average flow rate of 2.5 m3/d. The tests were carried out during five years of its operation (2014&ndash, 2018). The following parameters were measured: biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5), chemical oxygen demand (COD), total suspended solids, total nitrogen, and total phosphorus. The results showed that more than 95% of BOD5, COD, and total phosphorus was removed in the tested CW system. The average effectiveness of removal of total suspended solids and total nitrogen exceeded 86%. A reliability analysis performed using the Weibull probability model showed that the removal reliability in the tested CW was very high for BOD5, COD, total suspended solids, and total phosphorus (100%). The probability that the total nitrogen concentration in the treated effluents would reach the limit value (30 mg/L) established for effluents discharged from a treatment plant of less than 2000 PE (population equivalent) to standing waters was 94%. The values of all the pollution indicators in wastewater discharged to the receiver were significantly lower than the limit values required in Poland. The investigated hybrid CW system with common reed, manna grass, and Virginia mallow guaranteed stable low values of BOD5, COD, total suspended solids, and total phosphorus in the treated wastewater, which meant it was highly likely to be positively evaluated in case of an inspection.

The paper presents the results of the research of the potential of woody biomass derived from the afforestation tending. Evaluation of the quantity and energy characteristics of biomass acquired from care of 20 year old pine stand (late cutting). Moreover, based on the CSO data about the size of afforestation in subsequent years, the amount of waste from plantings care obtainable in the country was determined. It was found that the surfaces for afforestation already in the phase of greenwood can be useful source of energy. Biomass sourced from the care of plantings can be valuable raw material, especially at the local level.

The work evaluates the effect of anthropogenic pollutants on the quality of water in Lake Bialskie (51º32’07” N 23º00’55” E) and its catchment basin. Samples of water were taken from the lake (4 sampling points) and from wells dug within the catchment basin. The quality of water was analysed in May, June, August and November 2015. In the wells only in single cases was the level of chemical pollution found to exceed drinking water standards. However, in all samples the standard content of manganese was exceeded. In waters from the lake the concentrations of total phosphorus, which can contribute to eutrophication were recorded above the standard level. Both in waters from the lake and from the well a large count of meso- and psychrophiles and Coli and faecal coliforms as well as faecal Enterococci was found, which points to a high degree of contamination of the analysed waters with anthropogenic faeces. The phenomenon was observed to intensify in summer months, which can be associated with increased tourist traffic around the lake in this period.

The aim of this study was to evaluate physical and energetic parameters of peat. Utility of the peat in horticulture and power generation were also estimated. Peat was mined from the Klejniki deposit, (Hajnówka municipality, Podlaskie province) in the north-eastern part of Poland. It was found that peat can be used for power generation, in the air-dry moisture condition. Peat parameters are similar to lignite. It can also be suitable for the production of horticultural substrates and incorporated into soil as a component for improving physical and chemical properties. The examined peat fulfills the requirements of for agricultural applications.

This study was performed due to a concept of building a biogas network connecting two agricultural biogas plants. It was concerned with the ecological and energy awareness amongst the citizens of two communes located in the Lubelskie Voivodship. Moreover, their interest in being connected to the local biogas network has been studied. The interviewees declared that they are familiar with different sources of energy. Solar energy was the most well-known. It has been noted that the level of information about how agricultural biogas plants operate is low, which is known both from verbal expressions and the responses to questions concerning inhabitants’ interest in becoming connected to the network. The citizens are afraid of burdens resulting from producing biogas, mostly the unpleasant smells. It has been noticed that most of the decisions upon which the environmental attitude may be assessed stem from the economic reasons. The need to raise the level of knowledge about producing biogas and using it as energy is very high.

W pracy przeprowadzono analizę porównawczą emisji SO2, NOx, CO, CO2 oraz pyłu w przeliczeniu na jednostkę energii wytworzonej z biomasy wierzby, węgla kamiennego i oleju opałowego lekkiego. Na podstawie przeprowadzonych obliczeń stwierdzono, że spalanie węgla kamiennego powoduje ponad osiemdziesięciokrotne, a oleju opałowego czterokrotne, zwiększenie emisji SO2 w odniesieniu do biomasy. Ilość NOx, przeliczona na NO2, powstającego podczas spalania węgla i oleju opałowego jest odpowiednio wyższa o 21% i niższa o 26%. Wykorzystanie węgla powoduje, że emisja CO jest mniejsza o 5% aniżeli w przypadku spalania biomasy, a oleju opałowego — mniejsza o 99%. Produkcja energii z badanych paliw kopalnych wiąże się z emisją CO2 wyższą o ok. 15–17% niż z paliwa odnawialnego. Emisja pyłu zawieszonego okazała się prawie dwukrotnie wyższa w przypadku węgla kamiennego w porównaniu do zrębek wierzby, zaś najmniejszą ilość tych zanieczyszczeń — dwudziestotrzykrotnie mniej — powodowało wykorzystanie oleju opałowego.

Roztocze National Park (RNP) is one of 23 national parks in Poland. It was created in 1974 both to protect the natural and cultural heritage as well as to share the park area for science, education and tourism. In caring for the environment, the park removed asbestos coverage, performs thermo-modernization using renewable energy sources by the installation of solar panels and photovoltaic cells on the roofs of buildings, and pellet stoves are installed in boiler rooms. Part of these actions includes the application of innovative technologies for water and wastewater, related to e.g. recovery of rainwater for washing cars and the construction of wastewater treatment wetlands. RNP has been spreading for many years the knowledge about the methods used to most effectively care for the natural environment. Constructed wetland (CW) technology could be one of such methods. The current research shows that facilities working in CW technology provide high pollutant removal and full guarantee of high ecological impact with low operating cost, so they can be used to protect the aquatic environment in protected areas and valuable landscapes. The paper presents a concept of solving the problems of wastewater treatment by means of using hybrid constructed wetland in three villages in the forest of Roztocze National Park. The advantages of the proposed technology are easy and simple operation, high resistance to irregular supply of water treatment and very low operating costs compared to conventional solutions. The natural look of CWs allows easy incorporation into the existing landscape.

The article presents the results of research on the efficiency of the solar collector system in south-eastern Poland. The basis of the article are the results of actual measurements recorded by the system measuring in 5 years (2014-2018). Three solar collectors with a total gross area of 6.3 m2 are used to heat utility water in a single-family house. The average annual heat production in this system was 1916 kWh. The system’s work was characterized by high seasonal and daily variability, which is related to the Polish climate’s specificity. Using the energy production data, the reduction of pollutant emissions achieved by changing the energy carrier was calculated: from electricity to heat from a renewable source, which is solar radiation. The installation of solar collectors allowed for satisfying part of the energy demand as well as reducing the emission of greenhouse gases and other pollutants into the atmosphere.

The paper estimates the possibility of obtaining solid biomass for energy purposes in the Biała Podlaska County (Lublin Voivodeship, Poland). The estimates were based on data on: forest area, orchards and tree stands, land use, crop structure, animal population, and marginal land area in the County. It was found that in most communes, there are great possibilities of obtaining biomass for energy purposes. The largest resource is straw (243,501 Mg per year), which should first be used in agriculture as animal litter and organic fertilizer. Only its surplus can be intended for the combustion and production of pellets and briquettes. In the County, large areas of poor quality land were inventoried, on which perennial energy plants with low requirements can be grown. Up to 113,595 Mg of biomass can be obtained there. The basic condition for the development of targeted energy crops is the emergence of a biomass market: installations that convert biomass into fuels or produce energy on a local scale and sell it to power plants. Currently, a commonly used resource is wood biomass from forests and wood processing, which is used as fuel in domestic boilers, as well as for the production of pellets and briquettes.

The current results of NOx emission tests of diesel engines fuelled with unconventional biofuels are not unambiguous. Therefore, the aim of the study was to analyze the influence of temperature of methyl esters from animal fats (AFME) on the level of NOx emission. The test was carried out on an experimental stand equipped with a diesel engine with a power of 9.5 kW. The engine was controlled by an electric generator from which the generated energy was fed into the electric network. The test was carried out in accordance with the D1 standard for power generators. As a result of the statistical analysis, significant differences were found for the values of average unit emissions of nitrogen oxides obtained for individual phases of D1 tests, i.e. engine loads amounting respectively to 50%, 75% and 100% of the nominal value of engine torque. On the basis of the test results, a significant influence of fuel temperature on NOx reduction can be found. Increase of fuel temperature by 50°C resulted in reduction of emissions by 6% on average.

Biogas production in Poland is controversial. There is a lot of interest in the construction of installations of various scale, and protests of local communities take place at the same time. Residents do not agree to the construction of biogas plants due to the fear of nuisance related to its functioning. This work is a case study of the area of Kamionka – the rural commune in Poland, in terms of the possibility of locating an agricultural biogas plant. The main sources of substrates for biogas production in the commune were determined. When selecting the appropriate location for an agricultural biogas plant, the focus was on the areas designated in the “Study of conditions and directions for spatial development” as areas with the approval of locating devices generating energy from renewable sources. These properties were analyzed in terms of substrate availability (which are waste from animal production, fruit pomace, waste from processing, biomass of plants grown intentionally), plot size, infrastructure status and distance from protected areas. On this basis, one location was chosen that meets all those criteria. Surveys have shown that residents are afraid of unpleasant smell, noise, emerging waste and explosion risk. Nevertheless, the majority of respondents declared willingness to cooperate with the biogas plant.

Poland is proud of 23 National Parks (NPs) which were established to protect unique European areas. Through cooperation between Life Science University in Lublin and the NPs, highly effective methods for environmental protection were introduced in Roztoczanski and Poleski National Parks. One method is a hybrid treatment wetland (HTW) for wastewater treatment. HTWs, if well designed and maintained, can effectively treat wastewater generated in houses and museum buildings in the area of the NPs. In 2014, three HTWs were constructed in Roztoczanski National Park (RNP) (A – Kosobudy, B – Zwierzyniec, C – Florianka). One of these installations was constructed in the shape of a fir tree (A – Kosobudy). In 2015 another one, in a turtle shape, was built in Poleski National Park (PNP) (D – Stare Zalucze). Similar wastewater treatment technology was applied in all facilities. The technology consisted of three steps: (i) mechanical treatment in three septic tank chambers, (ii) biological treatment in two or three stages of vertical and horizontal beds, and (iii) inactivation of phosphorus in p-filter with calcium-silica rock. Since the very beginning all facilities have been monitored and the results indicate very low concentrations of pollutants in the final effluents. It can be concluded that HTWs working according to the assumed technology fulfill the strict requirements for wastewater treatment in NP areas in Poland.