Rybnik, Poland

Rybnik and its air quality challenges

Rybnik, located in southern Poland, used to rank among Europe’s top five most polluted cities. Its air quality issues stem from outdated coal-based heating systems, reliance on fossil fuels in single-family homes, and industrial emissions from local coal mines.

To address these challenges, Rybnik partnered with Airly in 2017, installing 27 air quality sensors to provide real-time, hyperlocal data.

 

Challenges

Before adopting Airly’s solutions, Rybnik struggled with:

• Severe air pollution: Over 15,000 coal-based heating systems and two operating coal mines resulted in emission levels exceeding permissible limits on more than 35 days annually.
• Public pressure: Residents demanded transparency and access to detailed air quality information.
• Limited monitoring: The single national monitoring station was insufficient to capture air quality variations across the city’s 27 districts.
• Low awareness: Educating the public and encouraging behavioural changes were crucial for long-term air quality improvement.
  

Partnership overview

• By 2024, 27 sensors were installed in the city.
• Airly offered a custom air quality map with intuitive colour-coding, enabling residents to easily understand local air conditions.
• Airly Data Platform provided historical data, automated reports, and real-time alerts, supporting faster and more informed decisions.
• After a brief switch to a competitor, Rybnik returned to Airly in 2023 due to dissatisfaction with data accuracy and sensor reliability.

• Airly conducted a comprehensive audit, identifying issues with competitor devices, and reactivated the city’s monitoring system.

 

Results: Quantifiable and qualitative impact

• Air pollution reduction:
  • Smog violations dropped to 24 days annually by 2024 (PM10).
  • Over 9,000 coal-based heating systems were replaced with eco-friendly alternatives, improving air quality by 70% since 2017.
• Increased engagement:
  • Airly’s platform logged 31,466 interactions in 2024, reflecting strong public interest.
  • Decision-makers relied on Airly’s Premium Data Platform for comprehensive reports and public updates.
• Funding secured:
  • Rybnik obtained over 53 million PLN from the Clean Air Programme (Czyste Powietrze), facilitating the replacement of more than 5,000 heating systems.
  • The city has joined the LeadAir project, which is developing a plan for its energy transformation by 2040.
  • Rybnik has secured funding to build photovoltaic micro-installations and energy storage systems to power municipal institutions.

Qualitative results

• Public awareness: Residents use real-time data to make informed decisions, supported by intuitive dashboards and maps.
• Enhanced decision-making: Automated reports saved municipal staff time and provided clear progress data for stakeholders.
• Educational impact: Schools integrated Airly’s data into lessons, fostering environmental awareness among students.
• Collaborative efforts: Regional insights encouraged cooperation with neighbouring municipalities to address cross-border pollution.

 

Testimonials

• Adrian Strzelczyk, Rybnik’s representative: “Airly’s system has revolutionised how we manage air quality in Rybnik. The data is reliable, accessible, and useful in daily work – a true game-changer for our city.”
• Local Resident: “Knowing the air quality in my neighbourhood has made a huge difference. It’s reassuring to see real progress in reducing pollution.”

 

SEE RESULTS IN DETAIL