Justyna Chodkowska-Miszczuk

European Union funds in the development of renewable energy sources in Poland in the context of the cohesion policy

The paper aims at determining the role played by funds from the European Union in the development of renewable energy sources in Poland in the context of European Union cohesion policy. We have derived data from the official European Funds Portal for the size of projects and the financial support obtained from the European Union for the use of a specific renewable energy source. We have analyzed all (928) projects related to hydro- and geothermal energy, biomass (together with biogas), wind, and solar energy implemented in all 16 voivodships (administrative regions of the second order, NUTS 2). It must be mentioned that, in the programming period 2007–2013, the available European Union funds made it possible to obtain the largest support for all investments in renewable energy sources in Poland so far. The total value of the projects co-financed from these funds has amounted to 2 billion euro. Analyzing the value of investments in technologies based on varied renewable energy sources, an evident disproportion in either the size of particular installations or the costs of investments is observed. We demonstrate that large wind farms constitute more than 60% of the total value of investments in renewable sources subsided by the European Union. Small projects have also been subsided, but mainly those related to solar energy. Generally, the wind energy investments are established in northern and western parts of Poland, including Zachodniopomorskie, Pomorskie, Dolnośląskie, and Łódzkie voivodships, while the solar energy investments are found in the eastern and southern parts of Poland.

REVITALIZATION AS A PART OF THE EU COHESION POLICY

Annotation The aim of the paper is the general characterization of the process of the revitalization in Polish cities in the context of the EU cohesion policy on the example of Kujawsko-Pomorskie voivodship. The research has been conducted on the basis of data derived from the official websites of the Regional Operational Program of Kujawsko-Pomorskie Voivodship 2007-2013 and data obtained from the website of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Development where all projects co-financed from the UE have been currently upgraded and monitored. From database, which contained more than six thousand projects implemented under the Cohesion Policy in Kujawsko-Pomorskie voivodship, 222 projects related to the revitalization have been analyzed. In the paper we have demonstrated that the cohesion policy realized by the EU, has significantly affected the process of the revitalization in Polish cities. This impact can be considered in two ways. On the one hand, the cohesion policy caused the necessity of long-term and integrated planning of all actions required for the activation of problem areas in a city. On the other hand, it initiated instruments by which Polish cities had a real opportunity to start the thorough revitalization.

Energy enterprises and the creation of economic potential of rural areas

Annotation The article aims to determine the roles of new enterprises operating in the renewable energy sector in creating the economic potential of rural areas in light of the socio-economic benefits resulting from their operation. The research was conducted on a regional scale and a detailed scale. The regionallevel research included the Lubelskie Voivodeship (NUTS 2) marked by high potential, in national terms, for the production of energy from RES, and biomass in particular. The detailed research was conducted using the case study method. The entities chosen for detailed research are: wind farm, photovoltaic farm, agricultural biogas plant. The concluded research proves that the establishment and operation of RES-based energy enterprises generates economic potential of rural areas. Analyses performed on a regional scale confirm that wider use of the energy potential of the Lubelskie Voivodeship, especially based on agriculture, will help drive the activity of local communities and form the basis for creating new jobs. The study on energy enterprises helps distinguish conventional socio-economic benefits arising from the development of renewable energy in rural areas, including new jobs and cooperation with local companies, as well as other effects, e.g. the provision of local services or educational and promotional activities.

Events as a factor shaping the image of a tourist city

Annotation The aim of this paper is to analyze events regarded as elements of the urban image connected with cultural tourism. To achieve this objective, a questionnaire was given to tourists (250 respondents) who visited Toruń during the summer season (June) of 2016. The study established the spatial resonance of the events, demonstrated by the permanent addresses of the tourists who declared that they had heard of particular events. Then the features of the events were assessed in order to check whether those shown to have the greatest reach have a specific profile. The events were ranked according to a multiple-feature point based scale, which confirmed that combination of such elements as high uniqueness of the event, its cohesion with the image of the place, well-established position, broad accessibility and resonance more than local make it possible to achieve optimum marketing effects with regard to the spatial scope of promotional actions. The collected results can be treated as guidelines on the effectiveness of the past actions as well as on the best direction for optimizing such actions in the future.

Premises for research on the role of culture in the development of small cities - a case study of Poland

Annotation It is widely accepted that cultural sector and creative sector contribute to the socio-economic revival of cities, change their images, form a specific creative milieu, generate new jobs, and organize urban space. However, previous studies concerning the significance of the cultural and creative sectors in the urban development have focused on the largest cities, small cities have not been the subject of a wider research so far. The paper aims at drawing attention to the potential of small cities in the context of using the cultural industry or creatvie industry for the develoment of small cities on the example of Poland. The paper was prepared on the basis of the most relevant literature in the field. The study shows that small cities have a potential that may be used to build development strategies on the basis of the cultural and creative sectors. Research should elaborate the new strategies of development, implement new factors which can initiate required effects in this field.

Młodzież z osiedli popegeerowskich a kształtowanie społecznych zasobów lokalnych = Youth of former State Agricultural Farm estates as local human resources

This paper aims to reflect upon the future direction of development in post-PGR (State Agricultural Farms) estates in Poland. Using the estate Chotel (gmina Izbica Kujawska, Kujawsko-Pomorskie voivodship) as a case study, we analyze the current human resources as represented by the local youth. Our point of departure is the assumption that youths, as a social category, will in the nearest future influence the structure of human resources, which in turn will determine both the pace and the direction of change in rural areas. Given that post-PGR estates are considered some of the most problematic settlement forms with respect to rural planning, and given that their adult residents are known to exhibit loose social bonds, intensified enmity and lack of initiative for co-operation, a number of important questions arises. Firstly, what are the specific human resources of youths in post-PGR estates? Secondly, how do these resources differ from those of their parents? Thirdly, do these resources give hope for future melioration of socio-economic problems inherent of post-PGR estates? The conducted analysis is prognosticating – a quality, which otherwise is extremely difficult to obtain in the context of the studied estates. (Less)

Current state and perspectives for oilseed rape production for energy purposes in Poland

ABSTRACT The article aims to analyze the current state and determine the perspectives for oilseed rape production for energy purposes in Poland. According to the study, in recent years the oilseed rape area for energy purposes and the production of biocomponents and biofuels from oilseed rape have been on the rise in Poland. The considerable and spatially concentrated energy potential of oilseed rape in Poland is noted. It is indicated that the greatest energy potential of the oilseed rape production is the four neighboring voivodeships: Dolnośląskie, Opolskie, Wielkopolskie, and Kujawsko-Pomorskie.

Modernisation of public buildings in Polish towns and the concept of sustainable building

Abstract This article aims to identify the scale of energy efficiency improvements in public buildings in Polish towns as representative of sustainable building. The study area is investigated from the perspective of challenges arising from the current policy in the EU. The article indicates that, given the age of public buildings in Poland, the best way to implement the concept of sustainable building is to improve their present stock. The modernisation of public buildings is discussed in terms of project location, project value, sources of funding (including EU funds), and the use of buildings undergoing modernisation. According to the research findings, the implementation of the sustainable building concept is determined by both, exogenous factors (EU directives and domestic laws, etc.) and endogenous ones (e.g. human resources and their quality)

Bydgosko-Toruński Obszar Funkcjonalny (Metropolitalny) w świetle wybranych wskaźników

The aim of the paper is both delimitation attempt and characteristics of Bydgoszcz- Torun Functional (Metropolitan) Area, in the light of selected indicators relating to socio-demographic determinants and functional relationships of the analysed area. Issues relating to socio-demographic factors are shown in the background of the situation in Poland. However, a functional relationship was analysed in the context of transport links and public transport situation in the metropolitan area.