Resource Use and Circular Economy
In CEZ Group, various fuels are used to generate and distribute electricity and heating. The consumption of fossil fuels and non-renewable energy sources represents a material strategic impact of CEZ Group‘s activities, the mitigation of which is the focus of CEZ Group‘s strategic targets and actions.
When purchasing resources, local sources of raw materials are preferred to minimize transportation distance. When selecting and using materials, products, and resources, we respect the requirements or prohibitions on their use according to specific European regulations and directives (e.g., REACH Regulation, Regulation on Persistent Organic Pollutants, Directive on the Restriction of the Use of Certain Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment, or Regulation on F-gases). Substitutes are being sought for substances of concern or of very high concern.
Circular economy, as a sustainable model of production and consumption that optimizes the use of resources, extends the life cycle of individual products, and reduces waste to a minimum, has been implemented into the company‘s culture, strategy, and business activities.
More information can be found in the Sustainability Report.
In line with VISION 2030, targets have been set for the transition away from the use of primary raw materials, i.e., a reduction in coal production, further decarbonization actions, and an increase in generation from emission-free sources, as defined in the chapter Climate Change of this Report. CEZ Group strives to close the life cycle of products and materials by maintaining their value in the economy for as long as possible, minimizing waste generation, and maximizing recycling and reuse, i.e., circularity.
The partial targets to minimize the consumption of primary raw materials and increase the use of renewable energy sources are tied to the main activity of CEZ Group, i.e., the generation of electricity and heat from coal and biomass, and do not require extraordinary costs or investments beyond the normal operating expenses and investments that are disclosed in the Consolidated Financial Statements as at December 31, 2025.
One method to prevent waste generation and minimize the consumption of primary raw materials is to use coal combustion residuals (CCR) in construction and for restoration. In this field, the ambition is to use at least 98% of all generated CCRs. Combustion and desulfurization residuals (in total 4.209 million tonnes in 2025) are subject to regular testing and certification as part of waste prevention and are further used in the production. Of the above production, 99.97% of CCRs were used. The prerequisite for achieving this target in the coming years is a sustainable quality of CCRs, certification, and regular supervision of its quality.
In order to achieve the tasks of the CEZ Group’s Environmental Policy and meet the set targets in the area of resource use and the circular economy, actions are being implemented with a priority placed on achieving climate neutrality. In addition to these actions, others are being implemented in the area of resource use and circular economy.
| Key actions | Site/company | Implementation |
|---|---|---|
| Certified Environmental Management System Attention is paid to minimizing waste generation and exploring opportunities for its reuse as early as the selection of technologies and the purchase of products. Waste management is based on the Environmental Management System (EMS), which establishes a hierarchy of waste management methods from prevention, preparation for reuse, recycling, and energy recovery to disposal. |
CEZ Group | In progress |
| Construction of waste-to-energy plants Construction of plants for the use of waste in the non-hazardous category as a substitute for primary sources for electricity generation has commenced (WtE project in part of the Mělník power plant site). |
Mělník | In progress |
| Take-back of end-of-life products CEZ Group is involved in the management of waste from products after their end of life through take-back systems for eligible products, such as tires, electrical equipment, and batteries. Electronic waste is handed over for processing to sheltered workshops employing physically disabled persons. |
CEZ Group | In progress |
| Recycling 3,371 PV panels were processed in the take-back regime, amounting to 64 tonnes. Within the collective system, a total of 86 tonnes of PV panels were recycled in 2025. At the same time, ČEZ Recyklace, s.r.o., has established contractual cooperation with another processor of waste electrical and electronic equipment, which operates a certified PV panel recycling line, producing valuable materials such as metals, glass, plastics, and other secondary raw materials. |
ČEZ Recyklace, s.r.o. | In progress |
| On-site oil regeneration To prevent waste generation, technology is used to regenerate oils already at the source. In 2025, the amount of reclaimed transformer oil intended for reuse exceeded 411 tonnes. |
CEZ Group | In progress |
| Certification of CCRs Coal combustion residuals are tested and certified for further use in construction and restoration. An EPD (Environmental Product Declaration) was prepared and verified for the produced fly ash and FGD gypsum to be used in the construction industry in accordance with the requirements of the International EPD® System. |
CEZ Group | In progress |
| Sale of unnecessary assets In connection with the disposal of unnecessary assets and inventory, these products and materials are used within CEZ Group, or sold on external markets to ensure that the equipment is used throughout its entire life cycle. |
CEZ Group | In progress |
| Pre-demolition waste screening Screening is carried out before demolitions of coal-fired units in order to identify hazardous and waste for recovery. Subsequently, selective demolitions are carried out, aimed at the recovery of waste. |
CEZ Group | In progress |
| Waste sorting according to the waste management hierarchy Waste is collected in appropriate collection bins, the number and location of which are continuously optimized according to actual needs. In addition to the usable components of municipal waste – paper, plastics, glass, biowaste – we also hand over used oil, metal materials, and other usable waste for recycling. |
CEZ Group | In progress |
The consumption of material resources is shown in the following overview. In addition to fuels, significant resources include sorbents, material additives, oils, ferrous metals, and main technological units (PV modules). Given the nature of production, secondary raw materials are used in insignificant quantities and not for the main production activity. Water consumption, as a significant resource, is presented in the Sustainability Report, chapter Water Resources.
| 2024 | 2025 | |
|---|---|---|
| Hard coal | 838.1 | 255.3 |
| Brown coal | 11,620.7 | 11,440.4 |
| Nuclear fuel | 0.09 | 0.09 |
| Liquid fuels | 22.4 | 22.4 |
| Solid alternative fuels from waste | 0 | 0.6 |
| Total non-renewable resources (excluding natural gas) | 12,481.3 | 11,718.9 |
| Solid biomass | 739.1 | 913.3 |
| Liquid biofuels | 0.1 | 0.2 |
| Total renewable resources (excluding biogas and biomethane) | 817.5 | 913.5 |
| 2024 | 2025 | |
|---|---|---|
| Natural gas | 489 | 485 |
| Biogas and biomethane | 16 | 15 |
| Total gaseous resources | 505 | 500 |
The main product of CEZ Group is the supply of energy, electricity, and heat, i.e., commodities to which the principles of the circular economy do not apply. In CEZ Group, products that meet the requirements of circularity are designed, especially in the areas of lighting, building management systems, ventilation equipment, and heat exchangers, but these do not involve material outflow of resources.
A major item in terms of resource outflows, with a volume of 4,209,000 tonnes, are residues from the combustion of coal and biomass and from the cleaning of flue gases, the use of which in construction and for restoration is given great emphasis. In 2025, 78.41% of CCRs were used for landscaping and terrain shaping and 21.56% of CCRs were sold for other uses in the construction industry. A total of almost 563,000 tonnes of FGD gypsum were sold for the production of plasterboard and cement.
CEZ Group is aware of the growing importance of waste management. Accordingly, waste is regarded as a new resource and material, and principles of circular economy are applied throughout all stages of waste management. The waste management hierarchy, ranging from prevention and preparation for reuse, through recycling, and energy recovery to final disposal, is applied across all activities. Waste generation is part of the environmental profile of each generating facility.
Data on waste and waste management are reported in accordance with Directive 2008/98/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council and Commission Decision 2014/955/EU on the List of Waste, classified by waste catalog codes and recovery/disposal codes, based on weight measurements at the time of transfer of waste to the recovery/disposal facility. Data are based on Group-wide data collection and waste management data from the companies to which the waste was transferred. The amount of waste generated and information on further waste management are recorded in the form of weighing slips and entered into recording systems so as to avoid double counting. In relevant cases, waste is tested to verify its properties or to exclude hazardous properties. The data do not include wastewater or mining residues, which are used for remediation and reclemation works. Data on waste generation are reported and verified annually by the competent public authorities..
Main Waste Streams
The main waste streams of non-hazardous and hazardous wastes from the main production activities consist of:
- scrap metals including their alloys (iron and steel, aluminum, copper, cables, etc.),
- waste from wastewater treatment plants and clarification sludge (suspensions of solid and colloidal particles of organic and inorganic substances in water),
- waste from power plants and other combustion plants that cannot be further utilized; pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008, fly ash is not classified as a hazardous substance – the substance consists of phases of glassy/amorphous material and minerals with SiO2, Al2O3, Fe2O3, CaO,
- construction and demolition waste (e.g., insulation, construction timber, waste plastics, mineral fiber, bricks, concrete, reinforced concrete from demolition and reconstruction of buildings, including excavated soil from construction work),
- waste engine, transmission, and lubricating oils and waste from oil separators; these substances are sorted into individual categories in terms of their use for regeneration, reprocessing, or energy recovery.
In 2025, 46.3% of waste generated was recycled, 4.8% was used in other methods, and 48.1% was disposed of. The remaining 0.8% represents waste stored year-on-year, which will be reused or disposed of in the following year. Hazardous waste accounted for approximately 3.6% of all waste in 2025. The year-on-year increase in waste is related to the demolition of coal-fired power plants.
The Czech Republic has a valid Concept of Radioactive Waste and Spent Nuclear Fuel Management (Government Resolution No. 597/2019), which ensures compliance with EU and international requirements considering management of radioactive waste. Radioactive waste generated at nuclear power plants is managed in compliance with Atomic Energy Act (Act No. 263/2016 of Coll.). CEZ Group is committed to minimizing nuclear waste and reducing its volume. At both the Temelín Nuclear Power Plant and Dukovany Nuclear Power Plant, liquid radioactive concentrate is immobilized in bitumen, i.e. converted into a form suitable for disposal. Solid radioactive waste is compacted under low pressure into drums or is incinerated, melted, and compacted under high pressure at facilities abroad.