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Integrated report 2020

Environmental protection

Contents

The PGE Group undertakes many activities in various fields related to environmental and climate protection. In its activities, it follows the principle of sustainable development, consciously shaping relations between economic growth and care about the natural environment.

PGE is increasingly investing in renewable energy sources. The PGE Group’s priority is to reduce the environmental impact of its operations and to protect the natural ecosystem. PGE consciously and responsibly builds and increases its competitive advantage with respect for the natural environment by aiming to reduce pollutant emissions.

Pro-environmental investments play an important role among various projects of the PGE Group. In 2020 alone, the PGE Group companies incurred approximately PLN 1.6 billion in environmental protection investments, out of which more than PLN 600 million was allocated for strategic development investments in renewable energy. The remaining part of the capital expenditures comprised investments related to the adjustment of power generation assets to the requirements of the BAT Conclusions, development investments in new gas-fired units, as well as modernisation and restoration investments aimed at increasing plants’ operational efficiency. This confirms the commitment of the PGE Group to actions reducing environmental nuisance and supporting responsible use of natural resources.

Environmental protection management in the PGE Group

The management of the environmental protection area is defined in the environmental protection policy of the PGE Capital Group. PGE Group’s Environmental Protection Policy is a key document that defines our attitude towards protecting the environment. It defines rights and obligations, as well as processes and activities relevant to environmental protection. The environmental protection policy obligates all PGE Group companies to care about the environment. They take a systematic approach to preventing and mitigating their impact on the environment and climate, monitor regulatory changes and meet all legal requirements. Environmental impact management issues are included in the Code of Ethics of the PGE Group, which states that all employees are obliged to use natural resources in a rational way, and in the declaration of the Management Board of PGE SA on the environmental policy. In this declaration, the Management Board has assumed the obligation to continuously improve activities aimed at protecting and improving the state of the environment and to prevent pollution by implementing high and economically justified technological standards. The Management Board’s declaration is available on the PGE Group’s website. 

A team responsible for the implementation, maintenance and improvement of the environmental management system based on the PN-EN ISO 14001:2015 standard has been in place since 2019. To ensure that the environmental policy in the PGE Group is effectively implemented, administrators and coordinators of the environmental management system have been appointed in the particular companies.

The PN-EN ISO 14001:2015 standard is certified in the majority of the PGE Group companies. The basic task of the ISO 14001 standard is to support environmental protection and pollution prevention in a manner that takes into account socio-economic needs, in accordance with the principles of sustainable development. The environmental management system compliant with the PN-EN ISO 14001:2015 standard identifies and monitors the PGE Group’s influence on the environment, taking into account environmental impacts in the context of risks and opportunities for individual environmental aspects, internal and external factors, as well as stakeholders. The fulfilment of legal requirements for environmental protection and the volume of emissions to the environment are monitored on an ongoing basis.

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Promotion of responsible approach among customers

Regardless of conducting environmentally-friendly education and the Group’s engagement in events promoting respect for the natural environment, PGE Obrót introducing a renewables sales package for all existing and future business customers who have eco-friendly activities listed in their strategies.

The „Naturally it’s energy” offering gives clients a guarantee of the origin of electricity from renewable sources, especially wind. The document confirms to the final customer that the quantity of electricity specified in it and introduced to the distribution or transmission grid was produced from renewable energy sources. Clients receive a certificate from PGE Obrót S.A. showing that they are using the „Naturally it’s energy” offering and confirming what percentage of the energy purchased in a given year comes from renewable sources.

In addition, the URE President issued an energy origin guarantee, which is sent to the Origin Guarantee Register maintained at the Towarowa Giełda Energii power exchange by PGE Obrót for the final customer.

Two branches of PGE Górnictwo i Energetyka Konwencjonalna, the Opole Power Plant and the Dolna Odra Power Plant Complex, as well as the Wybrzeże CHP Plant, a branch of PGE Energia Ciepła, have implemented EMAS PI:2999. EMAS The EcoManagement and Audit scheme is a EU environmental certification system which functions on the basis of the EU Regulation on the voluntary participation by organisations in a system of eco-management and audit.

EMAS is a tool supporting the implementation of a culture of sustainable development as well as effective management of available resources and energy in organisations. Together with the prepared environmental declaration, it is subject to annual verification by an independent accredited examiner. It is worth noting that the Opole Power Plant is an organization with the longest history of registration in the national EMAS system. It was entered in the register for the first time in 2005, and its first position there proves that the Opole Power Plant is the national leader in this field.

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Taking care to improve the quality of the natural environment, we initiate, support and participate in projects aimed at preserving biodiversity and improving the condition of the environment, the quality of which we monitor.

Selected indicators in environmental area of PGE Group

Our Common Environmental Policy commits all PGE Group companies to caring for the natural environment. Given the specific nature of the operations of our key companies, we present those indicators that are the most relevant to our impact on the environment.

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CO2 emission
(ths.t)***		 CO2 emission
(ths. t)		 Allocation of free
CO2 (ths.t)****
2020 2019 2020
Lublin Wrotków CHP 659 539 54
Rzeszów CHP 368 271 35
Gorzów CHP 438 464 43
Bydgoszcz CHP 690 733 117
Zgierz CHP 156 172 15
Kielce CHP 168 182 30
Wybrzeże CHP* 1,814 1,852 223
Kraków CHP 1,565 1,574 134
Zespół Elektrociepłowni Wrocławskich Kogeneracja CHP ** 1,468 1,550 159
Zielona Góra CHP 553 558 33
Toruń CHP 255 254 34
Total 8,134 8,149 875
* Includes Gdańsk CHP and Gdynia CHP
** Includes Wrocław CHP, Czechnica CHP, Zawidawie CHP
*** Estimated data (to be officially verified)
**** Allocation of CO2 shall be confirmed in the Ordinance of the Council of Ministers in 2021
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CO2 emission
(ths. t)**		 CO2 emission
(ths. t)**		 Allocation of free
CO2 (ths. t)***
2020 2019 2020
Bełchatów 30,089 32,742 51
Turów 5,807 5,523 23
Opole 9,699 7,023 15
Dolna Odra complex * 2,977 2,872 66
Rybnik 2,814 4,357 4
TOTAL Conventional Generation 51,385 52,517 159
* Dolna Odra complex includes Pomorzany CHP, Dolna Odra power plant and Szczecin CHP;
**Estimated data (to be officially verified)
*** Allocation of CO2 shall be confirmed in the Ordinance of the Council of Ministers in 2021.

The decrease in emissions in 2020 results from higher energy production in sources with lower emissions, both in the area of ​​conventional energy (new units in Opole) and heating (gas cogeneration in Lublin and Rzeszów). At the same time, the average emission intensity from the PGE Group’s installations decreased to 0.83 t / MWh from 0.84 t / MWh in 2019.

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2020 2019 change
Production volume (TWh) 58.13 58.32 0%
Emissivity [t/MWh] 0.83 0.84 -1%

Free allowances for electricity production result from the legal regulations as part of the EU Emission Trading System (EU ETS). The allowances are granted in exchange for documented investments aimed at limiting carbon dioxide emissions of the PGE Group’s systems. From 2013, each year features a reduction in the number of free CO2 emission allowances granted to systems. From 2020 PGE is eligible only for free allowances for heat production.

Weight of significant emissions into the air

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PGE GiEK PGE EC
Weight of significant emissions into the air [tonnes] 2020 2019 2020 2019
NOx 36,278 37,179 7,298 12,120
SO2 39,012 36,831 7,997 9,689
Suspended dust 1,268 1,324 560 821
Emission for net generated energy from all production capacities [kg/MWh]        
NOx 0.78 0.86 0.35 0.47
SO2 0.83 0.85 0.38 0.38
Suspended dust 0.03 0.03 0.03 0.03

The main goal of production processes, taking place in power plants, is to generate electricity and heat. Combustion of fuels releases substances contained in the fuel into the atmosphere, including sulfur dioxide, which – in further reactions – adversely affects the environment. The production of electricity and heat is accompanied by the flue gas desulphurization process based on wet technology. This technology is the safest in the power industry: it is qualified to be the best available technology on the market (BAT). The use of low sulfur fuel may be a complementary technique, but it is not sufficient to serve the desired purpose of reduction of SO2 emissions.

The final product of the flue gas desulphuri zation process in wet technology is gypsum (calcium sulfate) used in the construction industry, including the production of drywall. The plaster that arises in our flue gas desulphurization installations (IOS) has been registered in accordance with the REACH requirements at the EU ECHA Agency and – according to research results – can be safely sold for commercial use. Wet desulphurization installations are common in the power plants belonging to PGE GiEK (Bełchatów, Opole, Turów, Dolna Odra, Rybnik), as well as in PGE EC heat and power plants (Kraków, Wrocław, Gdańsk, Gdynia).

Water for production purposes

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PGE GiEK PGE EC PGE EO
  2020 2019 2020 2019 2020 2019
Total volume of water taken for production purposes from the following sources [m3] 1,242,121,026 823,248,035 46,191,007 588,941,446 10,790,555 9,569,414,678
Surface waters, including land waters wetlands, rivers, lakes 1,239,164,139 821,829,162 42,809,425 578,765,341 4,810 5,228
Groundwater 1,204,452.00 1,204,452 2,530,558 8,417,680 – –
Rainwater directly collected and stored by the organization – 16,867 – – – –
Sewage from other organizations 39,704.00 2,297 – 1,744 8,036 5,880
Municipal water supplies and supplies from other water companies 212,124.00 212,124 1,566,862 1,739,814 37,415 3,381

The decrease in water consumption at PGE EC and the increase in water consumption at PGE GiEK are caused by the intake of Elektrownia Rybnik at PGE GiEK.

The PGE Group makes sure that the principles of Closed Circulation Economy are applied to the widest possible extent in water and sewage management.

Repeated use of water collected from the environment has been going on for years, with guaranteed maintenance of required physical, chemical, and biological parameters. The conditions for conducting water and sewage management are specified in relevant administrative decisions, mainly in integrated permits and water law permits. In the company’s branches and subsidiaries, monitoring is carried out on an ongoing basis in terms of the quantity and quality of water and sewage discharged. The production of technological water in the Group is based on both surface and underground waters (which are subjected to purification and improvement). In several plants, water is also taken from municipal water supply networks. Depending on the size of the plant, source and composition of raw water, different techniques for water preparation are used: decar- burization, lime filtration, ion exchange, ultrafiltration, reverse osmosis, or electrodeionization. Complete in any case, the water preparation string combines several of the techniques listed above, which allows preparation of adequate quality water (often better than collected) for individual water and water-steam circuits. Waste products from the above treatment processes are still used in less demanding cycles.

At each stage of water preparation, particular attention is paid to its rational use. A great part of waste water generated during water preparation is recycled back to the processes. Also, sewage generated in other installations, if their composition allows, is recycled in the process, for example:

  • as a rule, hot waste water is recycled as a source for the water preparation process
  • in many cases, rainwater or drainage water is reused to produce process water
  • part of household sewage, after treatment, is used as a source of replenishment water in cooling systems and very soon treated wastewater from the municipal sewage treatment plant is going to be used as technological water
  • waste water is also used for domestic water systems or for topping up ash removal and slagging systems.

PGE Energia Odnawialna draws water for the production of electricity in accordance with its water permits. Measurements of the amount of water taken are carried out on the basis of installed meters or based on real work of the power plant.

Total volume of wastewater by quality and target destination

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PGE GiEK PGE EC PGE EO PGE Dystrybucja
2020 2019 2020 2019 2020 2019 2020 2019
Actual total amount of wastewater [m3] 37,021,636 21,856,562 4,899,580 13,856,612 90,563 107,699 684 617
Amount of wastewater:
Going to water 37,008,847 21,838,460 3,818,924 8,677,931 83,793 99,636 72 52
Going to ground – – – – – – 612 565
Going to municipal enterprises – to sewage systems 12,788 18,102 1,080,656 1,356,110 6,769 8,063
Water from drainage of the mining plant / water 200,947,318 213,285,383 not applicable not applicable not applicable not applicable not applicable not applicable
Cooling water from open cooling circuits, which do not require cleaning 1,120,985,368 706,037,989 33,194,176 542,577,387 851 1,000 not applicable not applicable

The year 2020 was a period of optimizations, modernizations and building of new installations and research to adapt to the BAT conclusions. These activities directly affect the amount of wastewater. Additionally, this amount depends on the quality of the fuel burned, because the more pollution it contains, the more sewage is generated.

The PGE Group constantly monitors water and sewage parameters. The Company also uses probes and sensors, connected to servers and decision supporting systems, managing data in real time as well as integrating and modeling purification processes:

  • wastewater from the flue gas desulphurization installation is treated in dedicated treatment plants and then directed to secondary use in technology; it can be pretreated in dedicated pretreatment plants and then directed to rainwater and industrial sewage systems and, through other industrial sewage networks, it gets to the final treatment plant,
  • wastewater from the cooling circuit (desalinated water from cooling towers) is used in other processes on site e.g. in flue gas desulphurization processes or slag transport,
  • rainwater and snowmelt water that may contain petroleum substances – rainwater from the entire site and oil management (engine rooms, area of electrostatic precipitators and transformers, carwash and depot area, workshop area and oil management) is pretreated in oil catchers. Waste water containing suspension is treated in sepa- rators of solid particles and in mud traps,
  • sewage from demineralization, ion exchange regeneration, ultrafiltration and reverse osmosis – including acid or alkaline sewage before discharge to the industrial sewage system – is neutralized (mutually) in chemical tanks, in the pretreatment unit,
  • sewage from carbon squares – the area around the squares is equipped with retaining walls, drainage channels and manholes septic tanks to discharge sewage from rainwater from the surface to the combined sewer system of side heaps of coal. They also perform separation (settling) functions for solid, lifted fractions through rainwater,
  • rainwater from bowls under transformers is discharged into the industrial and rainwater sewage system. The oil pan is connected by pipeline with oil catcher and hydraulic lock. Before draining rainwater from the transformer area to the sewage network, the water is treated in an oil separator / trap with an integrated settler,
  • rainwater from the roofs is caught and reused.

To reduce emissions to water from flue gas treatment, primary techniques are used, i.e. optimal combustion, non-catalytic / catalytic denitrification and secondary techniques, i.e. adsorption on organic carbon of organic compounds and mercury. Waste water from flue gas desulphurisation installations is treated using the best available technologies and techniques (e.g. reverse osmosis). The technologies used in these treatment plants are designed to treat wastewater to a quality that meets the legal requirements, including environmental objectives defined for basic water management units under the name „Uniform Surface Water Parts”. Currently, research is conducted on:

  • selective removal of heavy metals from wastewater,
  • selective removal of the rare earth elements from wastewater,
  • the use of treated wastewater for reclamation and in agriculture,
  • reducing the use of chemistry in the wastewater treatment process,
  • reducing the use of chemistry in technological processes generating wastewater.

At PGE Energia Odnawialna, in order to effectively separate petroleum substances and thus eliminate the risk of possible oil drainage to water or soil, oil pans and separators are installed on wind farms, under transformers. Similar solutions used in PGE Dystrybucja facilities, where company transformers are protected in a similar way. In addition, the Solina branch has a sewage treatment plant for oily waters, purifying wastewater from oil derivatives.

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PGE GiEK PGE EC PGE EO PGE Dystrybucja
2020 2019 2020 2019 2020 2019 2020 2019
Amount of hazardous waste by the method of utilization [tonnes]: 1,188 1,385 4,669 4,691 285 11 1,969 2,253
Recovery (including energy recovery) 859 523 290 4,430 – 1 – –
Recycling 270 304 57 36 – – – –
Mass burn – – – – – – – –
Disposal 133 188 37 725 31 3 – –
Storage at landfills 38 38 – 1 21.5 1.5 – –
Retaining on company’s site and storage 173 323 4,285 1.3 220 3.5 – –
Other (e.g. transfer to authorized recipients) – – – 0.2 4.7 2 1,969 2,253
Amount of non-hazardous waste according to the utilization method [tonnes]: 4,843,940 5,665,324 432,622 366,606 218 213 4,561 4,821
Recovery (including energy recovery) 1,256,648 1,714,784 161,558 481,603 – – – –
Recycling 7,061 20,700 194,833 4,718 – – – –
Mass burn – – – 85,459 – 2 – –
Disposal 13,913 9,558 27,744 7,376 171 3 – –
Storage at landfills 3,537,658 3,938,929 2,256 12,772 10 12 – –
Retaining on company’s site and storage 30,605 1,951 47,157 231 297 164 – –
Other (e.g. transfer to authorized recipients) – – 25.00 219 47 32 4,561 4,821

PGE GiEK generates mostly waste other than hazardous waste.

4.845 thousand Mg of this waste (99.98%) was generated in 2020. Hazardous waste accounted for 0.02% of total waste (1.188 thousand Mg). The waste generated in 2020 was subject to utilisation by storage in landfills (73.0%) and recovery processes (25.9%). A small quantity of waste (0.6%) was temporarily deposited in waste warehouses. Non-hazardous waste constitutes mainly combustion waste. A significant portion of the ash generating in hard coal and lignite firing as well as part of the synthetic gypsum are generated as a by-product and are not classified as waste.

The formation of combustion by-products of (CBPs) is an unavoidable consequence of the production of electricity and heat in conventional power plants using fossil fuels. The management of combustion by-products, generated in fuel combustion processes, carried out in the PGE companies, is a multidirectional activity whose purpose is to use them as a substitute for natural resources. By promoting the idea of „priority for secondary” we save the consumption of natural raw materials (aggregates). The idea of using CBPs has been known in the energy sector for over 20 years. The company consistently improves and expands the scale of their use, conducts research, and looks for new applications. These activities confirm the European Union policy aimed at reusing CBPs, protecting natural resources, and minimizing adverse environmental impacts by limiting the amount of waste deposited in landfills. Production processes are successively analyzed for the selection of technological solutions that enable the recycling of as wide a stream of combustion by-products as possible rather than their storage.

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The design and implementation of installations enabling the quality parameters of post-production minerals to be obtained already at the stage of fuel com- bustion gives wider possibilities for their subsequent use. This approach is a part of the concept of the Road Map towards a circular economy, prepared at Ministry of Development and proposed as a pattern for the national implementation of the Circular Economy Model (in Polish “GOZ”: Gospodarka o obiegu zamkniętym). The main waste streams generated in the PGE installations are waste and by-products of combustion from fuel burning and fumes after-treatment. Waste and by-products of combustion are managed in accordance with the directions specified in relevant permits and decisions. In addition to depositing them in furnace waste landfills or temporarily in waste warehouses, these substances – due to their desired properties – are widely used in the cement industry, construction and road construction. Because they meet certain parameters, some combustion products are considered to be by-products and are not classified as waste.

In the generating units of  PGE Group was implemented IMOS installation (wet desulphurization installation). IMOS is the best known and effective method of SO2 removal from flue gas. It is a technological system based on the wet lime-gypsum. In this tech- nology, limestone powder is most often used as a sorbent, and – as a result of the reaction with water – gypsum (calcium sulfate) is formed. This product is suitable for further industrial use, for example in the construction industry, in the produc- tion of drywall gypsum. At the PGE Capital Group, waste management is carried out in accordance with the permits for waste generation. At PGE Energia Odnawialna, the amount of waste generated in a given calendar year depends on the amount necessary to carry out service inspections or unforeseen failures. The generated waste is transferred to qualified and authorized recipients – companies that specialize in waste management and have qualifications to conduct such processes, as required by law in this respect. All waste generated by PGE Dystrybucja in 2020 was transferred to authorized recipients for management. The amount of generated waste depends on the scope of works on the power grid, occurrence of failures, and investments.

Value of fines not yet imposed but assessed for non-compliance with environmental laws and regulations:

PLN 15,893

1) Administrative penalty for exceeding the environmental usage limits specified in the water permit in 2017 (KWT – PLN 3,523),

2) Administrative penalty for exceeding the (hourly) limits of mercury emissions to the air in 2017 (ELT – PLN 5,110),

3) Administrative penalty for exceeding the nightly mine noise emission limits in 2017 (KWB – PLN 7,260)

In connection with the implementation of investment projects eliminating the reasons for imposing penalties, the Company submitted requests to the competent Provincial Environmental Protection Inspectors for postponements of the penalty payment deadlines:  1) in a letter of January 8, 2021, KWT requested a postponement of the penalty payment deadline in the amount of PLN 3,523,  2) in a letter of January 4, 2021, ELT requested a postponement of the penalty payment deadline in the amount of PLN 3,523 and a reduction of the penalty amount,  3) in a letter of October 13, 2020 KWB requested a reduction of the penalty in the amount of PLN 7,260 by the amount of its own expenditures on the investment (the purchase of real estate) eliminating the reason for the penalty.

PLN 252,796

1) An estimated amount of the administrative penalty for KWB’s exceeding the nightly mine noise emission limits in 2018 (PLN 53,687), 2019 (PLN 62,156) and 2020 (PLN 92,095).

2) An estimated amount of the penalty for ELT’s exceeding the mercury emission limits (in 2018 and 2019 – PLN 44,858)

Estimated amounts of potential penalties for exceeding noise emission limits by KWB in the villages of Kamień 36 (from August 9, 2018) and Janówka 57 (from July 31, 2020)

Value of fines not yet imposed but assessed for non-compliance with environmental laws and regulations:

PLN 13,052 

The sum of penalties imposed by the Provincial Environmental Protection Inspectorate for 2018 and 2019. For each penalty, the Company submitted “A request to postpone the administrative penalty payment deadline and to recognise it as an expenditure for the project under implementation”. The Provincial Environmental Protection Inspectorate postponed the deadlines for the payment of both penalties until December 31, 2020.

On January 12, 2021, two requests were submitted to the Provincial Environmental Protection Inspectorate for a reduction in the amounts of the fines and their recognition as expenditures for the implementation of projects. On February 8, 2021, the Provincial Environmental Protection Inspectorate issued relevant decisions reducing the penalties in question to zero, and recognising them as expenditures on the investment project that eliminated the reason for the imposition of the penalties.

In 2020, the companies of the PGE Group implemented 24 research and development projects in the field of environmental protection.

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#

Name of project

Company

Objective of project

Project
partners
Reduction of emissions
1 Technology for the production of activated carbon and a method of its dosage to reduce mercury emissions from combustion processes in power boilers PGE GiEK Bełchatów Power Plant Branch Mastering the technology for the production of lignite-based sorbents and a method of their dosage into the flue gas discharge system in order to comply with the required emission limits under the BREF/BAT conclusions. Institute of Power Engineering Warsaw, Institute for Chemical Processing of Coal Zabrze
2 Examining the effectiveness of using selected types of dust sorbents to reduce mercury emissions in the Bełchatów Power Plant PGE GiEK Bełchatów Power Plant Branch Selecting an optimum mercury emission reduction technology for power unit no. 14 in the Bełchatów Power Plant. The subject of research will be the dosing of bromine salt mixtures into the fuel and the dosing of activated carbon or activated coke dust into flue gases. “ENERGOPOMIAR” sp. z o.o. Power Generation Industry Measurement and Research Plant JSW Innowacje S.A.
3 Developing a low-cost method of increasing the efficiency of flue gas desulphurisation plants PGE GiEK Bełchatów Power Plant Branch Developing and testing a technology to reduce SO2 emissions to the levels specified in the new BREF/BAT environmental conclusions for sulphur oxide emissions below 130 mg/Nm3 RAFAKO Racibórz
4 Developing a technology to increase the efficiency of sulphur dioxide capture in FGD absorbers by using a sorbent with increased reactivity without the necessity of grinding PGE GiEK Bełchatów Power Plant Branch Constructing an alternative increasedactivity sorbent dosing installation as well as developing and testing an optimum operating algorithm for the FGD sorbent feeding installation. This will allow the maintenance of an allowable level of SOx emission into the atmosphere in the event of using coal with significant sulphation or a breakdown of limestone mills. “ENERGOPOMIAR” sp. z o.o. Power Generation Industry Measurement and Research Plant Omya sp. z o.o. ATMO PROJEKT Environmental Protection Projects and Consultancy GRAŻYNA PORWAŃSKA
5 Selecting a supplementary technology for halide-based reduction of mercury emissions and determining its impact on FGD effluents in the Bełchatów Power Plant PGE GiEK Bełchatów Power Plant Branch Developing an optimum mercury emission reduction technology based on dosing halogen compounds to flue gases, supplemented by methods to reduce mercury re-emission from FGD plant absorbers. The conducted research will also make it possible to determine whether the construction of an FGD process water treatment plant is justified. “ENERGOPOMIAR” sp. z o.o. Power Generation Industry Measurement and Research Plant IEM FörderTechnik GmbH Vosteen Consulting GmbH
6 Treating flue gases from the thermal waste conversion process using a newly developed regenerable sorbent material PGE Energia Ciepła Increasing the effectiveness and reducing the cost of removing mercury (Hg) generated in the process of thermal waste treatment with energy recovery from flue gases by: 1) optimising the treatment process – mainly sorbent injection 2) developing a sorbent material being a cheaper alternative to the currently used pulverised activated carbon (PAC) Decreasing the cost of the currently used sorbent (activated carbon), which cannot be regenerated, by replacing it with a cheaper sorbent material to be developed within the scope of the project and characterised by the possibility of regeneration and reuse. Reducing the cost of the heavy metal flue gas cleaning process by optimising the process aimed at reducing sorbent consumption in relation to the amount of waste processed. AGH (Academy of Mining and Metallurgy) in Cracow
7 A predictive and diagnostic system to support the operation of SCR installations PGE Energia Ciepła Developing a predictive-diagnostic tool for the proper management of catalysts, which is of key importance for NOx reduction performance and the operating and maintenance costs of SCR installations. A predictive-diagnostic tool will be based on an Access database system that will enable efficient access to large amounts of data by multiple users, rapid organisation, control and retrieval of information and automated calculations. The diagnostic tool will be used by PGE EC to optimise the management of catalysts (packages and modules) in its SCR installations. The project was executed by PGE Group experts within the scope of their competencies
8 A photovoltaic laboratory PGE Energia Odnawialna The aim of the project is to build a photovoltaic laboratory based on different solar energy conversion technologies in PV cells and to compare the parameters of monocrystalline, polycrystalline, thin-layer cells based on products offered by different manufacturers with different declared quality parameters. An analysis of optimising several types of installed inverters, including inverters for prosumer applications, with different types of PV panels and test cooperation with several types of energy storage facilities (prosumer batteries). City of Siedlce
9 New control algorithms for wind turbines PGE Energia Odnawialna The aim of the project is to apply a new technology for measuring wind strength and direction using a modern horizontal lidar to diagnose anomalies in the measured values. Obtained data will be used to develop new algorithms allowing for optimal operation of the equipment. The project was executed by PGE Group experts within the scope of their competencies
10 An experimental method of a modal analysis of a hydro power plant transmission gear PGE Energia Odnawialna The aim of the project is to design an experimental diagnostic system that will enable the hydrosystem operator to react to symptoms of undesired behaviour of a small hydroelectric power plant’s hydrogenerator transmission gear. The system will also allow the operator to prepare in advance appropriate maintenance or repair measures for the time of scheduled technical inspections of the unit. Wrocław University of Technology, Department of Mechanics and Materials Science, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering
11 Energy storage facilities integrated with the photovoltaic farm on Mount Żar PGE Energia Odnawialna The aim of the project is to build an energy storage facility integrated with a 500 kW / 750 kWh photovoltaic farm on Mount Żar and to examine in real conditions cooperation of such an energy storage facility with a photovoltaic farm and the way the energy storage system integrated with a PV farm affects the grid. CIM-mes Projekt sp. z o.o.
12 A hybrid electricity storage facility at the Żarnowiec Pumped Storage Hydro Power Plant PGE SA/PGE Energia Odnawialna/ PGE Inwest 14 The aim of the project is to build a battery-based electricity storage facility with estimated parameters of 200-205MW / 800-820MWh at the Żarnowiec Pumped Storage Hydro Power Plant to support the operation of the Żarnowiec Power Plant and to balance generation from wind farms. The project was executed by PGE Group experts within the scope of their competencies
13 An electric vehicle charging system integrated into lighting infrastructure PGE Dystrybucja The construction of a new system to manage a LV network, using distributed mobile energy sources (electric cars), for the purpose of improving energy efficiency in the network, reducing peak load power in the network, reducing losses (limiting power transfers) and carrying out research and analysis on the operation of charging stations within the electricity network, managing this process and using innovative technologies such as V2G. Lublin University of Technology
14 Managing the operation of a low voltage distribution network, taking into account the active role of the prosumer PGE Dystrybucja Developing and constructing an integrated and automated management system for LV distribution network infrastructure cooperating with dispersed energy sources and accumulators installed in prosumer installations. The result of the project will be dedicated devices for LV networks: LLE and CLE digital relays, together with a management system integrated with a SCADA class system. Thanks to optimised network operation management capabilities, the quality of energy supplied to consumers will improve and the number and power of RESs that can be connected to the network will increase without the need for its reconstruction. Apator Elkomtech Łódź University of Technology Lublin University of Technology
15 A system for
autonomous fault
reduction in the
depth of a power
grid		 PGE Dystrybucja Introducing an autonomous system for MV networks whose task will be to quickly isolate the place where a short circuit occurred and to reconfigure the network so that power supply can be restored to consumers in an optimum manner. The implementation of the solution will reduce the number of trips made by service vehicles to locate faults in the field and, as a consequence, reduce the number of kilometres travelled and fumes emitted, as well as limit the area of environmental damage caused during such trips. The change in the network structure will also have a positive impact in the case of repair works, for example reduction in the use of power generators having a negative impact on the environment (noise, exhaust fumes). Apator Elkomtech MindMade
16 An intelligent LV network reconfiguration system with a support system for assembly services PGE Dystrybucja The project will integrate switching units with a safety control system provided with new functionalities and create an IT module for dynamic optimisation of the operation of the power grid. The aforementioned switching units will be connected to a computational module. The solution will make it possible to connect the existing infrastructure with the network layout optimisation module in order to carry out operations of dynamic LV network reconfiguration, allowing for optimisation of energy losses and automatic isolation of failed network fragments. Automatic reconfiguration of LV networks both reduces technical losses of electricity distribution to consumers and enhances the reliability and flexibility of the power system. The application developed within the scope of the project for assembly services will provide accurate information about the place of fault occurrence, which will eventually limit the number of field trips of technical vehicles (to specific faults, without the need to locate them), thus reducing the number of kilometres driven and the level of exhaust emissions, as well as environmental damage caused during trips to locate faults. Apator Elkomtech Globema
17 Universal block power supply system (UBPSS) PGE SA /PGE Dystrybucja A universal block power supply system (UBPSS) for HV/MV/LV networks will be introduced as a process innovation to PGE Dystrybucja S.A. The use of project results will increase the connectivity of producers using RESs. This will be achieved through the development of a mobile device consisting of 4 automated and compatible blocks, i.e. an HV cable service module, an HV/MV mobile transformer station module, a MV/LV mobile transformer station module and a monitoring module. Due to their appropriate design, the blocks will be able to work with each other in different configurations, which will allow a more efficient and reliable connection with the network of producers / consumers during the expansion and modernisation of the infrastructure. The project was executed by PGE Group experts within the scope of their competencies
18 Innovative network services to improve quality and reliability of electricity supply PGE SA /PGE Dystrybucja Commissioning a pilot energy storage facility with a power of 2.1 MW and capacity of 4.2 MWh, located in Rzepedź in the operational area of the Rzeszów Branch. The main objective of the project is to verify optimum procedures for energy flow management and integration of energy storage facilities with the MV distribution network. The start-up of the energy storage system in Rzepedź will improve the reliability of electricity supply in an innovative way – as an alternative to the development of the traditional network. The construction of a traditional MV line involves the need to cut down a large area of forest for the technological strip of the line. The use of energy storage facilities is a good solution to improve the reliability of electricity supply to end customers in areas where there is a lack of backup power supply units and constitutes an alternative to the expansion of the traditional network, which will have a significant impact on the environment and landscape. Griffin Group Energy
Reduction of the amount of pollutants in wastewater
19 Examining the process of separating a mixture of boric acid and hydrochloric acid PGE GiEK /O. ELB The project provided for research to be conducted in laboratory conditions and then the selection, in pilot studies to be conducted at the Silesian University of Technology, of the optimum technology for the removal of boron from FGD wastewater, i.e. a mixture of hydrochloric acid and boric acid. Faculty of Chemistry of Silesian University of Technology in Gliwice, “ENERGOPOMIAR” sp. z o.o. Power Generation Industry Measurement and Research Plant
20 A demonstration installation for the INNUPS technology – the removal and recovery of heavy metals and boron from IMOS wastewater based on the ion exchange resins method PGE Energia Ciepła An analysis of sales opportunities for metal concentrates and calcium borate recovered from an INNUPS installation. This project is related to an investment project in which a demonstration installation based on the INNUPS technology is being constructed in Gdynia. The installation under construction is based on a system of ion exchange columns with the primary purpose of removing metals, metalloids and boron from wet desulphurisation wastewater. As part of the project, the installation will have to ensure the ability to meet the requirements of the BAT Conclusions. The aim of the research project will be to obtain metal and boron concentrates from the regeneration of ion exchange columns and the recovery of metals from non-regenerable resin, and then to assess the market value of the resulting products. Purolite sp. z o.o.
21 Using wastewater from a municipal treatment plant as the main source of water supply for generation units in Cracow PGE Energia Ciepła Analysis of the possibility of using treated wastewater from a municipal wastewater treatment plant in a generating unit of PGE EC in Cracow. Possibility of obtaining large savings through optimisation of water and sewage management, reduction of water withdrawal and preparation costs.

Miejskie Przedsiębiorstwo Wodociągów i Kanalizacji SA in Cracow
22 Waste heat recovery from wastewater at the IMOS plant in Cracow PGE Energia Ciepła Reducing the cost of producing district heat or heat for auxiliary needs of a CHP plant by recovering and utilising waste heat from the IMOS plant. The use of waste heat from the IMOS plant increases the efficiency of the CHP plant and reduces CO2 emissions. The project was executed by PGE Group experts within the scope of their competencies
Utilisation of combustion by-products
23 Developing a cement production technology with the use of combustion byproducts produced in the PGE Group and minerals accompanying lignite deposits PGE SA The aim of the project is to develop new innovative cement formulations using stored combustion by-products and minerals accompanying lignite deposits. In addition, the plans provide for the development of technological and raw material guidelines indicating the possibility of wider utilisation of minerals accompanying lignite deposits in the Bełchatów Lignite Mine and combustion by-products stockpiled in the waste dumps of the Bełchatów Power Plant. PGE Ekoserwis sp. z o.o.
Animal protection
24 Automatic monitoring and bird protection methods at wind farms PGE Energia Odnawialna The project aims to reduce the harmful impact of wind farms on birds. The system will monitor and catalogue the migrations of various bird species that inhabit the area of wind farms. The mechanism will analyse information recorded by devices mounted on the turbines and will aim to eliminate collisions of birds with wind turbines on wind farms. Bioseco
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