Integrated Report 2019 | PGE Capital Group

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Environmental policy

Striving to improve the quality of the natural environment, we initiate, support and participate in initiatives intended to retain biodiversity and improve the state of the environment, the quality of which we monitor.

It is in place at PGE Group’s key companies: PGE S.A., PGE GiEK, PGE EC, PGE Dystrybucja, PGE EJ 1 and PGE EO, and its objectives include:

  • defining general rules, authorisations and responsibilities in PGE Group’s environmental protection area,
  • defining PGE Group’s processes and activities having key meaning for environmental protection,
  • assigning key roles in the process of managing environmental protection to appropriate levels in PGE Group’s management organisational structure,
  • identifying environmental processes within business lines, taking into account their specifics,
  • continuously increasing PGE Group employees’ awareness of environmental protection.

PGE Group’s Environmental Protection Policy is a key document that defines our attitude towards protecting the environment.


In 2016 a declaration by the Management Board of PGE S.A. regarding environmental protection was adopted, in which this company’s leadership committed to continuous improvement of efforts aimed at protecting and improving the state of the environment and at preventing pollution – implementing high, economically justified technological standards.

Environment and ethics

All employees are committed to the rational use of natural resources. Managing environmental impact is also addressed in PGE Group’s Code of Ethics. The section „We care for the natural environment” describes the company’s attitude towards standards for emissions into the air, water and ground.

In line with this rule, we undertake the following activities:

  • We regularly monitor and reduce the negative impact of our operations on the environment. We continuously strive to reduce environmental footprint both in the area of technologies applied in operations and during our every-day responsibilities.
  • We effectively use natural resources. We reduce our environmental footprint and promote the sustainable use of essential natural resources. We set environmental objectives for our supply chain. Our initiatives cover activities aimed at the sustainable development of electricity generation and transmission technologies, afforestation, reducing water and energy consumption and recycling. Every year, we publish information on our progress in this domain.
  • We are championing innovations. We support innovative solutions that contribute to reducing the environmental impact of our products and services.

We are certain that by acting in a sustainable manner we bring benefits to both our shareholders and the society.

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. In 2019, PGE Obrót concluded a two-year contract for the sale of electricity with Polish companies of PepsiCo. The total volume of electricity supplied to PepsiCo Polska from renewable sources will amount to approx. 50 GWh over a two-year period, which is the value of electricity consumption of approx. households.

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.

xls

CO2 emission (ths. t)** CO2 emission (ths. t)** Allocation of free
CO2 (ths. t)***
2019 2018 2019
Bełchatów 32,742 38,348 4,627
Turów 5,523 6,893 1,864
Opole 7,023 7,459 2,398
Dolna Odra complex * 2,872 3,899 891
Rybnik 4,357 5,250 218
TOTAL Conventional Generation 52,517 61,849 9,998

* 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 2020.

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CO2 emission (ths. t)** CO2 emission (ths. t)** Allocation of free
CO2 (ths. t)***
2019 2018 2019
Lublin Wrotków CHP 539 453 130
Rzeszów CHP 271 283 63
Gorzów CHP 464 478 104
Bydgoszcz CHP 733 744 235
Zgierz CHP 172 175 19
Kielce CHP 182 185 43
Wybrzeże CHP* 1,852 1,907 465
Kraków CHP 1,574 1,722 374
ZEW Kogeneracja CHP** 1,550 1,591 375
Zielona Góra CHP 558 563 40
Toruń CHP 254 238 43
Total District Heating 8,149 8,339 1,891
60,666 70,188 11,889

* 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 2020.

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The emission decreased in 2019 as a results of lower electricity production in the segment of Conventional Generation. At the same time, the average emissivity of the PGE Group’s systems had declined. CO2 emissions for 2019 have been verified by authorized verifiers for CO2 emissions under the EU ETS system. In 2019, CO2 emissions from the PGE power plant and combined heat and power plant installations were reduced by 9.5 million tonnes of CO2, in relation to 2018 and 2017, which is about 15.7 percent of total CO2 emissions. Such a reduction is associated with a reduction electricity production at PGE GiEK by approx. 10% last year when compared to 2018. The CO2 emission rate per unit of electricity produced is systematically lowered. A decrease in CO2 emissions per unit [tCO2/ MWh] can be observed as a result of investments aimed at increasing the share of low-carbon technologies in the portfolio of the Group’s companies. Currently, for the entire PGE Capital Group (power plants and combined heat and power plants) the rate amounts to 0.84 t / MWh. The target set by the Group for 2025 is 0.78 t CO2/MWh.

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2019 2018 YOY change
Production volume (TWh) 58.32 65.91 -12%
Emissivity [t/MWh] 0.84 0.88 -5%

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 2021, a new EU ETS model will come into force, the details of which are not yet known, but the Polish energy groups will not be granted any free allowances.

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PGE GiEK PGE EC
Weight of significant emissions into the air [tonnes] 2019 2018 2019 2018
NOx 37,179 47,966 12,120 9,453
SO2 36,831 63,130 9,689 7,330
Suspended dust 1,324 2,492 821 509
Emission for net generated energy from all production capacities [kg/MWh]
NOx 0.86 0.89 0.47 0.48
SO2 0.85 1.18 0.38 0.38
Suspended dust 0.03 0.05 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). The increase in emissions at the PGE EC combined heat and power plants results from the acquisition of new units in January 2019 (earlier belonging to PGE GiEK).

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PGE GiEK PGE EC PGE EO
2019 2018 2019 2018 2019 2018
Total volume of water taken for production purposes from the following sources [m3] 823,248,035.00 1,042,814,300.00 588,941,446.00 528,781,595.50 9,569,414,678.00 12,431,666,681.90
Surface waters, including land waters wetlands, rivers, lakes 821,829,162.00 1,040,611,060.00 578,765,341.00 524,456,463.31 9,569,400,094.00 12,431,621,230.90
Groundwater 1,204,452.00 1,713,527.00 8,417,680.00 2,901,559.60 5,228.00 37,415.00
Rainwater directly collected and stored by the organization – – 16,867.00 – – –
Sewage from other organizations 2,297.00 3,824.00 1,744.00 – – –
Municipal water supplies and supplies from other water companies 212,124.00 485,889.00 1,739,814.00 1,423,572.58 9,356.00 8,036.00

The decrease in water intake at PGE GiEK is a result of the optimization of water consumption and the recycling of water from earlier technological stages. In 2019, in the case of PGE Energia Ciepła, the position “groundwater” also includes subsoil water, hence its value increases. Groundwater is taken up by the PGE branches in Kraków, Zgierz and Lublin, and on the Baltic Sea coast. Increased water consumption also results from the acquisition of companies previously owned by 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.

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PGE GiEK PGE EC PGE EO  PGE Dystrybucja
2019 2018 2019 2018 2019 2018 2019 2018
Actual total amount of wastewater [m3] 21,856,562 16,409,934.90 13,856,612 9,052,856.94 107,699 283,790.48 617 1,352
Amount of wastewater:
Going to water 21,838,460 16,226,412.40 7,570,498 4,925,721.13 99,636 279,028.48 52 303
Going to ground – – – – – – 565 1,049
Going to municipal enterprises – to sewage systems 18,102 183,522.50 1,356,110 598,577 8,063 4,762
Water from drainage of the mining plant / water 213,285,383 211,854,878 not applicable not applicable not applicable not applicable not applicable not applicable
Cooling water from open cooling circuits, which do not require cleaning 706,037,989 916,984,342.25 542,577,387 541,288,560.03 1,000 4,683 not applicable not applicable

The year 2019 was, and 2020 will be 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,
  • 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,
  • 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 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,
  • 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
2019 2018 2019 2018 2018 2017 2018 2017
Amount of hazardous waste
by the method of utilization [tonnes]
 1,385 1,606.04 4,691 79.96 11.88 101.62 2,141.19 2,350.05
Recovery (including energy recovery) 523 601.97 4,430 11.63 – 6.49 – –
Recycling 304 157.61 36 58.87 – – – –
Mass burn – – – – – – – –
Disposal 188 183.1 725 9.18 4.22 5.02 – –
Storage at landfills 38 176.55 1 – – – – –
Retaining on company’s site and storage 323 820.97 1.3 – 4.49 65.97 – –
Other (e.g. transfer to authorized recipients) – – 0.2 0.28 15.15 24.13 2,141.19 2,350.05
Amount of non-hazardous waste according to the utilization method [tonnes]
 5,665,324.00 7,095,231.73 366,606 423,673.86 78.67 193.39 3,424.85 6,913.09
Recovery (including energy recovery) 1,714,784 2,089,246.11 481,603.00 143,774.90 – – – –
Recycling 20,700 6,314.08 4,718.00 261,792.03 – 0.28 – –
Mass burn – – 85,459 – – – – –
Disposal 9,558.00 3,027.38 7,376 21.04 3 1.67 – –
Storage at landfills 3,938,929.00 4,949,595.45 12,772.00 15,582.10 12 77 – –
Retaining on company’s site and storage 1,951.00 53,362.80 231 65.52 164 – – –
Other (e.g. transfer to authorized recipients) – – 219 2,409.32 32 – 4,821 3,424.85
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More than 5 665 thousand Mg of this waste (99.98%) was generated in 2019. Hazardous waste accounted for 0.02% of total waste (1.385 thousand Mg). The waste generated in 2019 was subject to utilisation by storage in landfills (69.5%) and recovery processes (30.2%). A small quantity of waste (0.3%) 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.

PGE GiEK generates mostly waste other than hazardous 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.

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 2019, PGE Energia Ciepła increased the amount of hazardous waste due to the launch of the IMOS installation (wet desulphurization installation) and the acquisition of new plants (formerly owned by PGE GiEK). 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 2019 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.

PGE EC 2019 Additional information
Value of fines imposed and paid in a given year for non-compliance with laws and regulations regarding environmental protection PLN 7,999 In 2018, an administrative penalty was imposed
on the PGE EC Lublin for excessive dust emissions into the air, which occurred in 2018. PGE EC has taken measures to postpone the payment of the penalty and to pass it to ongoing modernization measures aimed at reducing dust emissions.
PLN 500 The Bydgoszcz Branch – for late submission
of the report resulting from art. 75 of the Waste Act

PGE GiEK 2019 Additional information
Value of fines not yet imposed but estimated for non-compliance with laws and regulations regarding environmental protection PLN 84,157 PLN 62,157 – relates to the estimated penalty
for exceeding noise emission standards in Kamień (KWB Bełchatów)
PLN 22,000 – amount estimated by PGE GiEK Branch Turów Power Plant. Applies to the notification of the initiation of administrative proceedings regarding the imposition of a penalty for exceeding 0.00411kg / h of permissible mercury emission from power unit No. 5 for the period from November 29 to December 31, 2017

Research and development projects in the field of environmental protection at the PGE Group

Project name Company Goal of the project Research partners
Activated carbon production technology and dosage method to reduce mercury emissions from combustion processes in energy boilers The PGE
GiEK branch, Elektrownia Bełchatów		 Mastering the technology for producing brown coal sorbents and their dosing methods to the flue gas system to achieve the required emission limits resulting from the BREF / BAT conclusions. Instytut Energetyki Warszawa; Instytut Chemicznej Przeróbki Węgla Zabrze
Research on the impact of targeted mixtures of bromine salts on the reduction of mercury and SO2 emissions in the exhaust gases of Bełchatów Power Plant The PGE
GiEK branch, Elektrownia Bełchatów		 Assessment of mercury reduction by the technology of dosing targeted bromine salt mixtures to fuel, understanding mercury behavior in lignite combustion processes and dose selection to ensure that the mercury level is kept below 7 μg / Nm3 in the exhaust gas. ZPBE Energopomiar Sp. z o.o.
Impact of targeted bromine salt mixtures on the reduction of mercury emissions in the exhaust gases of Turów Power Plant PGE GiEK Oddział Elektrownia Turów Assessment of mercury reduction by the technology of dosing targeted bro- mine salt mixtures to fuel, understanding mercury behavior in lignite combustion processes and dose selection to ensure that the mercury level is kept below 7 μg / Nm3 in the exhaust gas. ZPBE Energopomiar Sp. z o.o.
Investigating the effectiveness of using selected types of dusty sorbents to reduce mercury emissions at the Bełchatów Power Plant The PGE
GiEK branch, Elektrownia Turów		 Selection of the optimal mercury emission reduction technology for power unit No. 14 at Bełchatów Power Plant. The subject of the research will be the dosage of bromine salt mixtures for fuel and the dosage of activated carbon or active coke dust into exhaust gases. ZPBE Energopomiar Sp. z o.o.
Increasing the desulfurisation efficiency of wet flue gas desulfurization (WFGD) in Bełchatów Power Plant, while minimizing the precipitation of hard deposits in absorbers by dosing innovative chemical preparations The PGE
GiEK branch, Elektrownia Bełchatów		 Development of the chemical composition and dosing method of the innovative biological preparation reducing sulfur dioxide emission while limiting the precipitation of hard sediments in the absorber and avoiding undervaluation of blocks with the need to comply with environmental standards resulting from the BREF / BAT conclusions. JSW Innowacje S.A.
Development of a low-cost method to increase the efficiency of flue gas desulfurization installations The PGE GiEK branch, Elektrownia Bełchatów Development and testing of technology enabling reduction of SO2 emissions to the level of new environmental conclusions in the field of sulfur oxides emissions below 130 mg / Nm3. (BREF / BAT) RAFAKO Racibórz
Development of a technology to increase the efficiency of sulfur dioxide removal in IOS absorbers by using sorbent with increased reactivity without the need for milling The PGE GiEK branch, Elektrownia Bełchatów Construction of an alternative sorbent dosing installation with increased reactivity and development and testing of an optimal algorithm for the operation of the sorbent administration system for IOS. This will allow the maintenance of an acceptable level of SOx emissions to the atmosphere in the event of combustion of coal with significant sulphation or failure of limestone mills. The contractor
will be selected in the purchasing procedure
Minimization of nitrogen oxides emission from Bełchatów Power Plant by dosing innovative dedicated chemical preparations to the IOS absorber The PGE GiEK branch, Elektrownia Bełchatów Development of the chemical composition and dosing method of the innovative biological preparation that reduces the emission of nitrogen oxides to the level meeting the BAT conclusions emission standard, i.e. below 175 mg/Nm3. Megmar Magdalena Drac-Tatoń
Development and application of preparations to reduce NOx and SO2 emissions from hard coal-fired power units at the Opole Power Plant The PGE GiEK branch, Elektrownia Opole Development of the composition and dosing method of an innovative biological preparation enabling reduction of NOx and SO2 emissions from power units. Megmar Magdalena Drac-Tatoń
FLEXICAL

– development
of flexible coal power plants with CO2 capture in the Calcium Looping technology

 PGE
Energia Ciepła 		Assessment and increase of flexibility of the power plant integrated with CO2 capture in the Calcium Looping techno- logy. During the implementation of the project, two new concepts will be verified, i.e. the flexibility of the Calcium Looping installation and expansion with a system using energy storage with CaO / CaCO3. Data on load changes and energy storage will be used to test dynamic systems and reactor models to increase the efficiency and flexibility of calcium loop systems. The end result will be the technical and economic concept of the integrated Calcium Looping system with the selected the PGE EC plant. Agencia Estatal Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Spain;
Universität Stuttgart, Germany;
Politecnico di Milano, Italy;
Hulleras del Norte S.A., Spain
A predictive and diagnostic system supporting the management of SCR catalysts PGE Energia Ciepła Development of a predictive and diagnostic tool for the proper management of catalysts, which is crucial for achieving the efficiency of NOx reduction as well as for minimizing operating and repair costs of SCR installations. The predictive and diagnostic tool will be based on the Access database system, which will allow efficient access to large amounts of data for many users, quick organization, control and retrieval of information, as well as automated calculations. The diagnostic tool will be used by the PGE EC for optimal management of catalysts (packages and modules) in their SCR installations. Company’s own research
Electric vehicle charging system integrated with lighting infrastructure PGE Dystrybucja Construction of a new low-voltage network management system, using dispersed, mobile energy sources (electric cars) for the purposes of improving energy efficiency in the grid, limiting peak load power in the grid, reducing losses (limiting power transfers). The final product of the works will be: the V2G 50 kW charger, together with the accounting system and the methodology of location of charging points in the urban space. Politechnika Lubelska
Low voltage distribution network management taking into account the active role of the prosumer PGE Dystrybucja Development and construction of an integrated and automated system for managing low voltage distribution network infrastructure, cooperating with distributed energy sources and storage facilities installed in prosumer installations. The result of the work will be dedicated to the LV network devices such as: digital relays LLE and CLE, together with the management system integrated with the SCADA class system. Thanks to the optimized network management capabilities, the quality of energy supplied to consumers will improve, and the number and power of renewable energy sources that can be connected to the network will increase, without having to rebuild it. Apator Elkomtech Politechnika Łódzka Politechnika Lubelska
Zero emission transport PGE Dystrybucja Study of the economic efficiency of the introduction of electric vehicles into the distribution network operators’ fleet. As a result of implementation, the company will develop guidelines for, among others, the operation of electric vehicles, while reducing CO2 emissions. As a result, PGE Dystrybucja will obtain data that will allow to optimally prepare for the future transformation of the fleet from diesel to electric Company’s own research
System of autonomous reduction of the effects of failures in the power grid PGE Dystrybucja The introduction of an autonomous system for MV networks, whose task will be to quickly isolate the place where the short circuit occurred, and reconfigure the network in such a way that the restoration of power supply to consumers takes place in an optimal way. Thanks to the implementation of the solution, the number of company car trips locating damage in the field will be reduced, and consequently the number of kilometers driven and exhaust emissions will be reduced, and the area of environmental damage during such trips will be reduced. Changing the structure of the net- work will also positively affect renovation works – the need to use power generators with a negative impact on the environment (noise, fumes) will disappear. Apator Elkomtech MindMade
Intelligent low voltage network reconfiguration system with assembly service support system PGE Dystrybucja As part of the project, switchgears will be integrated with security automation having new functionalities, and an IT module for dynamic optimization of the power network will be created. These switching devices will be combined with the calculation module. The solution will allow connecting the existing infrastructure with the network layout optimization module in order to conduct dynamic reconfiguration of the LV network, enabling optimization of energy losses and automatic isolation of network fragments in which a failure has occurred. Automatic reconstruction of the LV network reduces both technical losses in the distribution of electricity to consumers, and strengthens the reliability and flexibility of the power system. The application for assembly services created as part of the project will provide accurate information about the location of the failure, which will ultimately limit the field trips of technical vehicles (to specific damage, without having to locate them), thus reducing the number of kilometers driven and consequently limiting the level of exhaust emissions and decreasing degradation of natural environment during journeys to locate damage. Apator Elkomtech Globema
Photovoltaic laboratory PGE Energia Odnawialna Comparison of PV technologies and selection of the most advantageous ones. The research covers such questions as optimal angle of the panels relative to the sun, battery packs, microinverters and optimizers. The devices include polycrystalline, monocrystalline and thin-film panels. The laboratory is equipped with monitoring, data collection, analysis, reporting and work control systems. The town of Siedlce
Integrated system of hydrogen and biomethane in-situ generation BioHyMet PGE Energia Odnawialna Conducting industrial research, and experimental and development work aimed at acquiring unique knowledge in the field of optimization of the process of storing electricity from RES in alternative gases. The aim of the project is also to create a concept for the installation of an integrated hydrogen and biomethane generation system. Ultimately, the installation will consist of an electrolyser module and a biomethanization module generating a mixture of biomethane and syngas (derived from the reaction of hydrogen and carbon dioxide), which will eventually go to the gas network. Estimated amount of avoided CO2 emissions will be around 3200 Mg/year. Uniwersytet Przyrodniczy w Poznaniu, Bałtyckie Centrum Transferu Technologii
Development of technology for the production of micro-cogeneration devices with solid oxide fuel cells (mCHP-SOFC) and technology for the production of stacks of solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC) fueled with natural gas PGE SA Development of a new, optimized and economically justified technology for the production of micro-cogeneration devices with solid oxide fuel cells (mCHP-SOFC) and technology for the production of stacks of solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC) fueled with natural gas. The project will enable PGE SA to acquire competences in the field of micro-cogeneration technologies and fuel cells in the area of the intensively developing distributed energy market. Instytut Energetyki Warszawa
Innovative network services that improve the quality and reliability of electricity supply PGE SA/PGE Dystrybucja Improving the quality and reliability of electricity supply through the construction of storage facilities. The construction of a traditional HV line requires cutting down a large area of forest for the technological belt of the line. The use of energy storage is a good solution to improve the reliability of electricity supply to end users in areas where there is a lack of back-up power and is an alternative to the traditional expansion of the network system, which will significantly affect the surrounding environment and landscape. Instytut Energetyki Warszawa

Project name Company Goal of the project Research partners
Studies on the separation process of boric acid and hydrochloric acid mixtures The PGE GiEK branch, Elektrownia Opole Research and development of a method for separating hydrochloric acid from boric acid and the process of obtaining crystalline boric acid. Wydział Chemiczny Politechniki Śląskiej w Gliwicach; ZPBE Energopomiar sp. z o.o
Precipitation of heavy metals from sludge arising from sewage treatment plants from IOS The PGE GiEK branch, Elektrownia Bełchatów Avoiding the need to store / utilize sludge from the IOS wastewater treatment plant of the Bełchatów Power Plant, which is hazardous waste, by developing non-waste technology for the recovery of heavy metals from wastewater or sludge generated during wastewater treatment from IOS. ZPBE Energopomiar sp. z o.o.
Removal of various forms of nitrogen from wastewater – consultancy activities, pilot installation for nitrate removal in Gdańsk PGE Energia Ciepła Development of the concept of technology for removal of ammonia and nitrates from wastewater from wet flue gas desulfurization for the Gdańsk Heat and Power Plant. Instytut Ochrony Środowiska – Państwowy Instytut Badawczy
Optimization of water consumption for energy purposes PGE Energia Ciepła Identification of the possibilities of reducing costs related to water management at PGE Energia Ciepła. Company’s own research
Demonstration of INNUPS technology for removal and recovery of heavy metals and boron from wet flue gas desulfurization wastewater (WFGD) wastewater by ion exchange resins PGE Energia Ciepła Analysis of sales opportunities for metal concentrates and calcium borate from the INNUPS installation. This project is associated with an investment project in which a demonstration installation based on INNUPS technology in Gdynia is being built. The installation under construction is based on a system of ion exchange columns, the main purpose of which is to clean wastewater from wet desulfurization from metals and metallides and from boron. As part of the project, the installation will need to ensure that the BAT conclusions can be met. The aim of the planned research project will be to obtain metal and boron concentrates from the regeneration of ion exchange columns and to recover metals from non-regenerative resin, and then assess the market value of the resulting products. Purolite sp. z o.o.
Comprehensive technology for removing various forms of nitrogen from wastewater generated in the wet flue gas desulfurization (WFGD) process PGE Energia Ciepła Development of technologies for removal of various forms of nitrogen, such as nitrates, nitrites, ammonium nitrogen and organic nitrogen from industrial wastewater from wet flue gas desulfurization installations in combined heat and power plants, by using a combination of biological processes. The project will test and select biological methods, including auto- and heterotrophic denitrification, nitrification, Anammox process. An important argument to start the project is the need to develop a comprehensive technology for reducing the concentration of various forms of nitrogen in wastewater resulting from legal requirements (Regulation of the Minister of Maritime Economy and Inland Navigation of 12 July 2019 on the conditions to be met when introducing sewage to water or soil, and on substances that are particularly harmful to the aquatic environment (Journal of Laws of 2019, item 1311). At present, in CHP plants with wet desulphurization, in which flue gas denitrification with the use of nitrogen compounds (ammonia, urea) is also used, these parameters are continuously exceeded. Company’s own research
Utilization of wastewater from municipal sewage treatment plant as the main source of water supply for generating units in Kraków PGE Energia Odnawialna Analysis of the possibility of using treated wastewater from the municipal sewage treatment plant at the PGE EC generating unit in Kraków. Miejskie Przedsiębiorstwo Wodociągów i Kanalizacji S.A. w Krakowie
Waste heat recovery from sewage from the wet flue gas desulfurization system in Kraków PGE SA Reduction of costs of district heating production or CHP plants’ own needs through recovery and management of waste heat from WFGD installations. The use of waste heat from the WFGD installation increases the efficiency of the combined heat and power plant and reduces CO2 emissions. Company’s own research

Project name Company Goal of the project Research partners
Installation of ash vitrification in a hybrid boiler furnace (VITRO-ASH) The PGE GiEK branch, Elektrownia Bełchatów Reducing the amount of ash and slag intended for storage, and production of useful material that can be utilized in various industries, including building. An innovative technology for processing significant amounts of ash and slag in the combustion system of an energy boiler at the Bełchatów Power Plant consists in using part of the coal dust fed to the main burners to process the combustion waste in an additional special combustion chamber with liquid slag removal, integrated with the boiler. Instytut Energetyki Warszawa; Project temporarily closed

Project name Company Goal of the project Research partners
Energetic management of the biodegradable fraction of municipal waste for transport PGE Energia Odnawialna A solution to the problem of managing selected organic waste obtained from municipal treatment in biomethane production technology. The biomethane produced in the installation can be used, for example, for transport purposes.

Project name Company Goal of the project Research partners
Reduction of noise emissions on the transport routes of the OCT systems in P / Bełchatów and P / Szczerców by using innovative rollers The PGE GiEK branch, Kopalnia Węgla Bełchatów Meeting the noise emission standards of belt conveyors by improving and introducing changes in the construction of belt conveyor rollers. Zakład Ochrony Środowiska „DECYBEL” s.c.
Optimization of wind turbine blade geometry PGE Energia Odnawialna Optimization of the wind turbine blade geometry, which will allow the PGE EO to achieve greater productivity under the same wind conditions, also with simultaneous reduction of the acoustic emission (noise level) of the turbines.

Project name Company Goal of the project Research partners
Automatic monitoring and methods of bird protection at wind farms PGE Energia Odnawialna A system that monitors and catalogs migrations of various species of birds living in the area of wind farms. The mechanism is designed to eliminate their collision with the wind turbines of the wind farms Kisielice and Lotnisko. The system relies on the analysis of information recorded by turbine mounted devices. Data from video cameras and radar are used to automatically identify birds, catalog their individual species, and track flight paths. The apparatus is able to detect birds from a distance of 500 m from the turbine and assess the likelihood of collisions. Bioseco
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