Press releases pg. 5

• FAIR (Facility for Antiproton and Ion Research) is an international particle accelerator project for research into atomic nuclei and antiprotons, located near Darmstadt, Germany

• Two Elevion Group companies – HERMOS and ETS – succeeded in the prestigious supplier tenders

• When completed, FAIR will be one of the largest accelerators in the world, to be used by 3,000 scientists from more than 50 countries.

• FAIR also has a Czech footprint – the Czech Republic is FAIR Aspirant Partner and several of its large science organizations contribute to the project

• Elevion Group has almost doubled its turnover since ČEZ’s entry

When completed, FAIR will be one of the largest accelerators in the world: a total of 3.5 km of tunnels are planned and eight acceleration and storage rings. The system can accelerate particles of all chemical elements, from hydrogen to uranium, and antiprotons to nearly the speed of light, and simulate their collision with other atomic nuclei. Scientists hope the facility, which has at its heart an underground ring accelerator with a circumference of 1,100 metres, will generate particle beams of previously unparalleled intensity and quality. Here, scientists want to gain new insights for the main scientific questions: How did the universe evolve? How do chemical elements form? How does matter behave under extreme conditions? Why does a person weigh 70 kilograms when all the elementary particles that make up his atoms together are barely 700 grams? HERMOS is responsible for the delivery, installation, and commissioning of building and process automation, hardware and software engineering, as well as the installation of distribution boards. Efficient Technical Solutions GmbH (ETS), in the ARGE RLT FAIR consortium (together with Calvias Gebäudetechnik GmbH), was awarded a major contract by FAIR for a project in the demanding field of ventilation and air conditioning technology. Both companies work under the umbrella of ČEZ.

Floor coverings, durable coatings for kitchen appliances, and pharmaceuticals – that is just a small example of the broad range of applications for the products of SPOLCHEMIE, a Czech chemical company with a 165-year history, which relies on ecology, modernises its production processes, and reduces its carbon footprint. A newly concluded contract with ČEZ ESCO for the supply of emission-free electricity will help the company achieve “greener” production. From now through to the end of 2024, SPOLCHEMIE will purchase more than 900 GWh of electricity generated in Czech nuclear power plants. The interest in clean electricity among large companies is also growing in connection with meeting European climate commitments.

ČEZ Group and Komerční banka today announced their strategic partnership for sustainability. The country’s largest energy company and one of the largest Czech banks will work together to reduce their climate footprint as well as their customers’ emissions, thereby helping the Czech Republic on its way to meeting the 2030 European climate targets, a stricter version of which was put forward by the European Commission this summer. Both companies have ambitious plans in this area: Komerční banka wants to become carbon neutral by 2026 and ČEZ Group plans to reduce the use of coal to a minimum by 2030, replacing it with low-emission and renewable sources in power generation. The first step in the cooperation of the two companies is an innovative model for installing rooftop photovoltaic power plants at customers’ sites. Komerční banka has also begun purchasing electricity from renewable sources from ČEZ ESCO.

The ORLEN Unipetrol Group continues expanding the offer of its Benzina ORLEN network with electricity from fast-charging stations. They can recharge e-car batteries with zero-emission electricity in tens of minutes. In addition, Benzina ORLEN offers eco-friendly energy from ČEZ green stations in ten regions throughout the Czech Republic. Last year, drivers charged up with as much energy as would enable 40 trips around the world.