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Environmental

Vision 2030

Reducing the environmental impact of the energy sector and contributing to global climate goals are long-term strategic goals of CEZ Group. CEZ Group has spent tens of billions of crowns on desulphurization, denitrification, CO2 emission reduction and other environmental measures, and is consistently implementing steps in advance to meet all emission and environmental requirements set by legislation and regulatory authorities. The main environmental priorities include decarbonization, renewable energy development, and increasing energy efficiency.

Our environmental targets
  • Decarbonization

    We will reduce CO2 emissions in line with the Paris Agreement “well below 2 degrees” by 2030
     

  • We will reduce the emission intensity from 0.38 tCO2e/MWh in 2019 to 0.26 tCO2e/MWh in 2025 and to 0.16 tCO2e/MWh in 2030

  • We will reduce the share of coal-fired electricity generation from 39% in 2019 to 25% by 2025 and to 12.5% by 2030

  • Emissions

    We will reduce NOx from 23 kt in 2019 to 13 kt in 2025 and 7 kt in 2030

  • We will reduce SO2 from 21 kt in 2019 to 6.5 kt in 2025 and 3 kt in 2030

  • Renewables

    We will build 1.5 GW of RES by 2025 and 6 GW of RES by 2030
     

Highlights
0/0SBTi - long term

CEZ Group's plans to achieve climate neutrality by 2040 have been endorsed by the globally recognized SBTi expert initiative. CEZ Group has received validation of its long-term goals to achieve climate neutrality by 2040, which are in line with the Paris Agreement to limit global warming to 1.5°C. It now becomes the first Czech company to have its ambition validated.

0/0Climate-neutral by 2040 - SBTi certification

CEZ Group has received validation from the globally recognized expert initiative SBTi of its long-term goals to achieve climate neutrality by 2040, which are in line with the Paris Agreement to limit global warming to 1.5 °C.

0/0Joining TNFD

CEZ Group was the first in the Czech Republic to join the assessment of the impact of its business on the environment, landscape, ecosystems and biodiversity in accordance with the recommendations and assessment criteria of the Task Force on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD).

0/0CEZ Group Improves ESG Rating from CDP

CEZ Group has improved its ESG rating with CDP, one of the world's leading organisations focused on assessing public administration and companies from a sustainability perspective. In the key area of tackling climate change, CEZ has scored a B, an improvement of two ranks since 2021. 

0/0Emission intensity

CEZ Group's emission intensity from electricity and heat production decreased by 8% year-on-year.

0/0Annual Polluting Emissions Decreased

Annual Polluting Emissions decreased: PM by 12%, SO2 by 15%, NOx by 10%, and Hg by 20%.

0/0EU Taxonomy

In 2023, CEZ Group realized 67.3% of its investments (CAPEXt) in sustainable activities that comply with the EU taxonomy.

0/0Charging Stations for e-vehicles

We are the biggest operator of charging stations in the Czech Republic with 660 public charging stations with a total capacity of almost 50 MW. In 2023, we have built more than 145 charging stations for electric vehicles.

0/0Bird Protection

In 2023, CZK 10.6 million was spent on bird protection and 3,693 existing support points of high-voltage power lines were equipped with protective elements.

0/0New nuclear power plant

We have received a zoning permit for a new nuclear power plant at the Dukovany site and prepared documentation for the EIA notification and for the application for a permit to locate the SMR at the Temelín site. We have also prepared a preliminary feasibility study for the construction of SMRs at the Tušimice and Dětmarovice sites.

0/0Implementation of 7 new photovoltaic projects

We started the implementation of 7 new photovoltaic projects in the Czech Republic and succeeded in obtaining investment support totaling over CZK 3 billion for projects with a total installed capacity of 728 MWp.

0/0Installation of photovoltaic power sources in the retail sector

Nearly 4,000 photovoltaic power plants with a total installed capacity of 28.2 MWp have been installed in the retail sector in the Czech Republic.

Commitment to Environmental

We respect the sustainability agenda adopted by the Czech government in the strategic Framework Czech Republic 2030 and we apply two key principles of the United Nations 2030 Agenda: quality of life and sustainability. The Czech strategic framework is based on seventeen global sustainable development goals (SDGs) adapted by the United nations member States in 2015. We link the selected global topics to CEZ Group’s sustainable development strategy. In 2015, countries adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals. In 2016, the Paris Agreement on climate change entered into force, addressing the need to limit the rise of global temperatures.

SDGs
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The Sustainable Development Goals are a call for action by all countries – poor, rich and middle-income – to promote prosperity while protecting the planet. They recognize that ending poverty must go hand-in-hand with strategies that build economic growth and address a range of social needs including education, health, social protection, and job opportunities, while tackling climate change and environmental protection.

Main SDGs
Affordable and Clean Energy
Affordable and Clean Energy

CEZ Group serves customers responsibly and provides comprehensive energy advice and services that can be customized to customers’ needs. We offer energy solutions to both individuals and institutions: residential households, industrial companies, small and medium-sized businesses, municipalities, public and private organizations, hospitals, schools, sports arenas, and companies managing buildings and premises of all types. In times of energy crisis, our priority is to deliver safe, stable, and affordable energy to our customers. Our energy solutions reduce energy consumption and improve our customers’ quality of life by using advanced technology for electricity and heat generation, lighting comfort, and mobility.

Climate Action
Climate Action

As an energy company, we play a key role in climate protection. In 2021, we launched an accelerated strategy VISION 2030—Clean Energy of Tomorrow. The top priorities of the strategy include the transformation of our generation portfolio to a low-emission one and the target of carbon neutrality by 2040. The current emphasis on environmental protection is also accelerating the need for energy savings. Smart solutions, advanced technologies, and digital transformation reduce energy consumption. Supporting innovations and digitalization corresponds to our strategy VISION 2030: it is key to saving energy and using natural resources more efficiently.

Other SDGs
  • Clean water and Sanitation

    Water is the second most important raw material after fuel for CEZ Group’s production. It has an irreplaceable role in cooling during power generation. All CEZ Group generation facilities comply with water protection provisions and conditions outlined in operation permits. In 2022, CEZ Group joined the UN CEO Water Mandate and committed to responsible water stewardship and regular reporting on water management.

  • Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

    In VISION 2030—Clean Energy of Tomorrow, CEZ Group commits to large-scale digitalization of distribution networks. The company wants to deliver the best customer experience in the market and bring all key customer processes online by 2025. The digitalization program and its solutions will benefit renewables, energy storage, e-mobility, and new related services.

  • Sustainable Cities and Communities

    ČEZ ESCO’s Smart City concept helps cities set up efficient energy management. Designed for the public sector, the concept revolves around modern technologies and renewable resources. Using high-tech solutions, the Smart City improves the environment and saves public budgets. E-mobility helps with emissions reduction and presents opportunities for companies to grow. We focus on the entire value chain, including synergies between different green products (photovoltaics, energy storage, etc.).

  • Responsible Consumption and Production

    CEZ Group is aware of the growing importance of waste management and protection of finite natural resources throughout all its operations. Waste is seen as a new resource, and principles of circular economy are applied to all stages of waste management. We have introduced the principles of circular economy into our corporate culture, strategy, and processes of our business activities. The Board of Directors is responsible for waste management and circular economy through the Environmental Protection and Safety Policy. The waste management hierarchy is followed in all our activities.

  • Life Below Water

    Although Czechia is a landlocked country without access to oceans, we feel responsible for the world’s oceans, and we do our part to protect life below water in our operations. All CEZ Group generation facilities comply with water protection provisions and conditions outlined in operation permits. We prevent water pollution by responsible surface water and river management. Plastic pollution is a severe threat to oceans and life in them. In CEZ Group, we handle waste based on principles of circular economy preventing waste pollution.

  • Life on Land

    CEZ Group’s long-term strategic goals include reducing environmental impact, achieving global climate goals, protecting biodiversity, and meeting all emission and environmental requirements set by legislation and regulatory authorities. CEZ Group’s biodiversity strategy includes protection and restoration of biodiversity, reduction of lignite mining, and reduction of pollutant and GHG emissions. The strategy also involves the restoration of areas affected by mining, where the biodiversity of natural habitats is promoted in the reclamation process.

Policies

We are aware of our role in society and the responsibility this role inevitably entails. Our management emphasizes ethical principles in all employee and supply chain conduct. Through sound business ethics and relations, we strive to pave the way for trust with both shareholders and stakeholders.

Taxonomy

CEZ Group reports key indicators of the EU taxonomy in accordance with EU Regulation 2020/852 the so-called Taxonomy Regulation and related delegated acts. For fiscal year 2023, we report eligibility and alignment of our economic activities in relation to all six environmental objectives. CEZ Group business activities in the energy sector and energy services are primarily focused on a substantial contribution to mitigation, and CEZ Group does not carry out significant economic activities aimed at adaptation (CCA).

In accordance with the requirements, CEZ Group also reports identified economic activities in relation to the other four environmental objectives for which the classification of activities was created in 2023: Water Protection (WTR), Pollution prevention and control (PPC), Transition to circular economy (CE), and Biodiversity and Ecosystem Protection (BIO).

Technical screening criteria consist of Substantial Contribution Criteria for one environmental objective (mainly climate change mitigation objective) and Do No Significant Harm criteria for other five environmental objectives. The alignment is assessed on the level of a single economic activity or projects of a given company. The climate risks and social safeguards have group-level importance across activities and are assessed on CEZ Group level.

Detailed methodology and EU taxonomy disclosures are available in CEZ Group Sustainability Report 2023.