Pollution
The main generation activities of CEZ Group are associated with the production of emissions of pollutants into the air and water. Together with electricity and heat distribution activities, these include the handling of chemical substances which, in the event of an accidental leak, could cause soil contamination and negatively affect the quality of groundwater or surface water. Emissions to air and water recipients were assessed as a material impact requiring a solution within the framework of the double materiality assessment.
CEZ Group complies with the basic legal standards governing the assessment and management of air and water quality based on the EU Industrial Emissions Directive and the Water Framework Directive, as well as other directives in the field of water resource protection transposed into Czech legislation. The substances specified in Annex II to Regulation (EC) No. 166/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the establishment of a European Pollutant Release and Transfer Register (E-PRTR) are monitored. CEZ Group’s ambition is to implement actions that will contribute to reducing pollution emissions. A significant contribution to this ambition is decarbonization targets and actions set out in the chapter Climate Change of this Report. Decarbonization targets, in particular the gradual reduction of fossil fuel mining and combustion, will also contribute to reducing pollution emissions.
As part of VISION 2030, a target for reducing SO2 and NOX emissions into the air was set in 2021. At the CEZ Group level, the following environmental target values are set:
- Reduction of NOX emissions from 23 kt in 2019 to 13 kt by 2025 and 7 kt by 2030.
- Reduction of SO2 emissions from 21 kt in 2019 to 6.5 kt by 2025 and 3 kt by 2030.
The VISION 2030 targets in the area of pollution fulfill the Environmental Policy, which pursues the mitigation of negative impacts related to air, water, and soil pollution. These voluntary targets for reducing emissions released into the air are tied to the main activity of CEZ Group, i.e., generation of elektricity and heat defined on the basis of scenarios and information described in the section Transition Plan of the Sustainability Report 2024. A significant reduction in SO2 and NOX emissions, as primary pollutants from combustion sources, is expected in the period 2025 to 2030. The effectiveness of actions taken to reduce SO2 and NOX emissions is verified four times a year based on a comparison of the actual amount of emissions generated and the expected emissions according to the targets. The results are presented to management.
Between 2019 and 2024, CEZ Group managed to reduce SO2 emissions by 77% and NOX emissions by 52%. In the same period, emissions of particulate matter (PM10) were also reduced by 72% 5). Voluntary targets for reducing emissions of pollutants into water and soil have not been set, as this pollution is insignificant compared to emissions of pollutants from the combustion of fossil fuels.
More information can be found in the Sustainability Report 2024.
| Emissions and Specific Emissions of Air Pollutants | Unit | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Particulate matter (PM) | t | 823 | 635 | 558 |
| Particulate matter per electricity and heat generated | kg/MWh | 0.013 | 0.010 | 0.009 |
| Sulfur dioxide (SO2) | t | 7,812 | 6,323 | 5,381 |
| Sulfur dioxide per electricity and heat generated | kg/MWh | 0.121 | 0.102 | 0.091 |
| Nitrogen oxides (NOx) | t | 14,306 | 12,964 | 11,619 |
| Nitrogen oxides per electricity and heat generated | kg/MWh | 0.222 | 0.209 | 0.196 |
| Mercury (Hg)1 | t | 1.110 | 0.706 | 0.562 |
| Lead (Pb)2 | t | 0.896 | 1.177 | 0.609 |
| Volatile organic compounds (VOC)2, 3 | t | 17 | 25 | 22 |
| Persistent organic pollutants (POPs)2, 3 | kg | 32 | 13 |
1) Continuously measured since 2021, previously one–off measurements.
2) Determined by one–off measurements.
3) Newly reported pollutants.
An overview of emissions of pollutants released into the air from CEZ Group facilities according to Annex II of the E-PRTR regulation, for which the relevant threshold was exceeded, is presented in the table in the Sustainability Report 2024.
In 2024, the environmental target values for reducing NOX and SO2 emissions were met as NOX pollution reached 10.8 kt (target value for 2025 was 13 kt) and SO2 pollution was only 4.8 kt (target value for 2025 was 6.5 kt). The development of emissions of selected pollutants from CEZ Group facilities for which the relevant threshold value set out in Annex II to E-PRTR regulation is shown in the charts in the Sustainability Report 2024.
An overview of individual pollutants released into water that exceeded the reporting thresholds set out in Annex II of the E-PRTR regulation in 2024 is presented in the table in the Sustainability Report 2024. Emissions were reported to the integrated pollution register.
IPollutants are not systematically released or transferred to the soil, and pollutants released into the soil in 2019-2024 did not exceed the reporting threshold for any of the substances monitored in the E-PRTR. In connection with operating activities, pollutants may leak into the soil from accidental leaks. The release of emissions into the soil is always associated with subsequent remediation actions. No significant leaks were recorded in 2024.
To achieve and fulfill the environmental targets under the Environmental Policy, additional action plans and actions are adopted beyond the those primarily intended to decarbonize operation.
- Certified Environmental Management System
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Use of Advanced Wastewater Treatment Technologies
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Installation of Early Detection and Signaling Systems for Oil Spills
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Implementation of Active and Passive Particulate Matter Control Actions in Coal Mining and Processing
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Testing of Fire-Fighting Foams
More information can be found in the Sustainability Report 2024.
- Monitoring of Air Pollution
- Monitoring of Water Pollution
- Monitoring of Soil Pollution
More information can be found in the Sustainability Report 2024.
In CEZ Group’s operations, substances of concern are only used in strictly necessary quantities. CEZ Group is not a producer of these substances. The handling of these substances is controlled in accordance with the instructions in safety data sheets and exposure scenarios to manage the risk of exposure to these substances for humans and the environment. In 2024, no significant incident related to the release of these substances with impacts on the environment or human health was recorded.
Special attention is paid to the group of PFAS substances, which are used in fire-fighting foams within CEZ Group and tested for the presence of substances from the PFAS group. If these substances are identified in the foams used, they are replaced with an alternative substance in accordance with the updated national implementation plan of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants issued by the Ministry of the Environment of the Czech Republic.