The Suski district is located in southern Poland. In the southern edge of this district lies the Babia Gora National Park, which back in 1977 was declared a biosphere reserve by UNESCO. Furthermore, the Suski district is home to some five Natura 2000 protected areas. To sum up, the district boasts of a captivatingly unique natural landscape, making it also very attractive to tourists.

The installation of solar collectors for the creation of hot water is intended to significantly reduce not only the utilization of conventional fuels, above all coal, but also the emissions of which they are the cause. In this way, the project makes a vital contribution to the reduction of respiratory illnesses in the region. Furthermore, the protected areas harbouring their unique fauna and flora are relieved of the fine-particle emissions caused by fossil fuels. Still more, the project demonstrates the technical feasibility as well as the economic efficiency of solar installations for the preparation of hot water in the Polish context. Switzerland is supporting this project to the tune of some CHF 4.8 million within the context of the Swiss-Polish cooperation programme (Switzerland’s Enlargement Contribution for the reduction of social and economic disparities in the enlarged EU). The Polish project partners are also contributing to the project with a total amount of CHF 5.8 million.