In its first year, the Gdansk Waste-to-Energy plant has transformed 116,000 tonnes of waste into a vital energy source, enhancing the city’s self-sufficiency and advancing its circular economy model.
Key Takeaways
- In its first year, the Gdańsk Waste-to-Energy Plant transformed 116,000 tonnes of waste into energy, enhancing the city’s circular economy.
- The plant supplied 80,000 MWh of electricity and 492,000 GJ of heat to municipal units, improving Gdańsk’s energy self-sufficiency.
- It prevented the emission of over 56,000 tonnes of CO₂, showcasing significant environmental benefits and resource recovery.
- The facility utilises an in-house energy management model to align municipal resources with consumer needs more effectively.
- The plant actively engages in educational initiatives, collaborating with local universities and promoting environmental awareness.
The Waste-to-Energy plant in Gdansk Port Czystej Energii (ITPOK) has completed its first year of service. From its launch on 5 February 2025 to the end of that year, the facility processed over 116,000 tonnes of non-recyclable waste.
Since 1 January 2026, the electricity generated has been supplied to municipal organisational units, including educational institutions and city-owned companies, thereby increasing the energy self-sufficiency of Gdansk, Poland.
In its first year, the plant generated 80,000 MWh of electricity and 492,000 GJ of heat. The heat is fed into the municipal heating network. The electricity supports entities such as Gdansk Buses and Trams, the Waste Disposal Plant, and the Gdansk Economic Development Agency. The waste processed originated from disposal plants in Gdansk, Tczew, and Gilwa Mała.
Supporting Municipal Energy Independence
Aleksandra Dulkiewicz, President of Gdansk, stated that the facility is an ecological combined heat and power plant that supports the city’s heating system. She noted its role during a recent power plant failure, where it supplied heat to southern districts.
According to Dulkiewicz, the plant strengthens the city’s energy and financial resilience and is an example of a municipal strategy based on a closed-loop economy and the use of local resources.
Environmental Benefits and Resource Recovery
The operation of the plant has prevented the emission of over 56,000 tonnes of CO₂, an amount that would require approximately 14,000 hectares of forest to absorb. The technology used reduces air pollutants, with dust emissions over four times lower and sulphur oxide (SO₂) emissions over eight times lower than those from conventional coal-fired power plants. The processing of 116,000 tonnes of waste also resulted in a saving of over 66,000 tonnes of hard coal.
Sławomir Kiszkurno, President of the Board of Port of Clean Energy, said: “We limit landfilling and greenhouse gas emissions, and from non-recyclable waste, we produce electricity and district heat. We are also pleased that all ‘post-process waste’ – slag and ash from flue gas cleaning – is used economically in the construction and road-building industries. This confirms that thermal waste treatment installations are not only a necessary and closing element of the entire municipal waste management system but are also an excellent example of a circular economy.”
In addition to the thermal treatment of waste and energy production, the plant recovers raw materials from secondary waste. By-products such as slag and ash are declassified as waste and are utilised in the production of concrete blocks, aggregates, and construction mixtures for road foundations and surfaces.
First Municipal In-House Model
The plant supplies energy to municipal entities through an in-house model. This internal city energy management system allows for more effective process control and a flexible response to consumer needs, enhancing local energy independence.
Marta Szabłowska, Vice-President of the Board of Port Czystej Energii, stated that the organisation is building a municipal energy management system based on the combined heat and power plant. She described the in-house model as an effective way to align resources and needs within the municipal structure and expressed the goal of becoming Gdansk’s Balancing Responsible Party in the near future.
The company also engages in educational activities, including hosting student visits, participating in the ‘Clean City Gdansk’ educational programme, and collaborating with the Gdansk University of Technology and the Hevelianum Centre.
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