Regardless of the fact how we appraise the latest climate summit in Copenhagen, certain issues are not subject to doubt. For the next 30 to 40 years, hard coal and lignite-based power industry will continue to be the leading technology in Poland and in numerous other countries. On the other hand, it goes without saying it is high time we started implementing and searching for clean and safe coal combustion technologies.

The International Energy Agency estimates that in 2050 there will be circa 3,400 CCS installations in operation in the world applying clean coal technologies. First of them are bound to be erected by the end of 2015. Next, from 2020 to 2025 first commercial installations with full CCS technologies are planned to be in operation.

Are we, Południowy Koncern Energetyczny, joining this trend? We sure are. Tighter cooperation with the research centers and attempts to encourage the researchers, scientists and students to actively explore the field of clean coal technologies serve this purpose. Taking into account the fact that today’s predictions show the commercial scale not sooner than in 40 years time, we cannot neglect the repowering with the application of the state-of-the-art and accessible technologies. Therefore, on December 29, 2009 we concluded a contract with Polimex –Mostostal SA for the erection of the new heat and power unit in Bielsko-Biała Heat and Power Plant. The new unit will be equipped with a fluidized-bed boiler, back-pressure turbine, two peak boilers and the heat accumulator. The unit of the assumed efficiency amounting to 87%, capacity 50MWe and 105MWt shall operate in cogeneration in accordance with the European Union power policy which promoting the development of the cogeneration of heat and electric energy (the so-called red certificates).

This investment will bring significant benefits with respect to ecology – the reduction of emissions: sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, CO2 and dust.

Reaching out for the modern technologies of coal combustion we do not neglect the investment in the renewable energy sources, continuously increasing co-firing biomass with coal in our power plants. The erection of the 50MW biomass-fired power unit in Jaworzno Power Plant will also be an interesting solution. In the entire 10-year history of PKE we have been open to new solutions and technologies which are newly introduced to the industry. That is why we are among the leaders of the electric energy generators in the country.

Jan Kurp

Chairman of PKE SA Management Board