Environmental impact
The national environmental standards positively set Poland apart from other EU countries.
PSE endeavours to reconcile the reliable and efficient operation of the power system with its development whilst respecting the natural environment.
Our every power project meets stringent requirements for the impact of extra-high voltage lines on the environment.
Polish safety standards for electric and magnetic field impact for residential areas are among the most restrictive in the world.
PSE endeavours to reconcile the reliable and efficient operation of the power system with its development whilst respecting the natural environment.
Our every power project meets stringent requirements for the impact of extra-high voltage lines on the environment.
Polish safety standards for electric and magnetic field impact for residential areas are among the most restrictive in the world.
Environmental impact
At PSE, measures are taken on a regular basis, aimed at increasing the efficiency of energy use. They include increasing energy efficiency in our operating activities as well as in the area of property maintenance and pursuit of campaigns promoting the environmental awareness of our employees.
In 2018, in the field subunits (ZKOs) and in the headquarters of our company in Konstancin-Jeziorna, activities were carried out for the purposes of energy audit in accordance with the provisions of the Energy Efficiency Act.
In September 2018, the audit was conducted by an external company and its results included the specification of upgrade measures as well as outlining other measures aimed at increasing energy efficiency. Some of the audit recommendations are implemented on a current basis while other ones are at the planning stage.
An external air cooling system for water chillers at the PSE headquarters was planned in 2018 and commissioned in 2019.
In all ZKOs and the Head Office, activities are phased in, such as:
- replacement of light fixtures for LED units,
- installation of motion sensors in toilets,
- upgrade of the building services and lighting control method, etc.
All those activities gradually contribute to improving energy efficiency of the entire PSE organisation.
The audit also resulted in the assessment of a project planned by PSE to improve energy efficiency in terms of energy, ecological and economic effects achieved, related to the replacement of seven 220/110 kV 160 MVA autotransformers for new transformer units.
According to the audit report, as a result of the replacement of seven 220/110kV autotransformers, the total losses should be reduced by 3 336 770,615 kWh of final energy, i.e 8 341 926,537 kWh of primary energy and the CO2 emissions will be reduced by 2 702,784 tonnes/year. In percentage terms, the reduction of losses and reduction of CO2 emissions will amount to 46.1%. The autotransformers are scheduled for delivery in 2020-2024.
| GRI 302-1 Total energy consumption in the organisation | 2018 | 2017 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MWh | GJ | MWh | GJ | |
| Total consumption of fuels from non-renewable sources at Konstancin-Jeziorna and ZKOs: | 35 446 | 32 029 | ||
| - Petrol | 15 536 | 12 745 | ||
| - Diesel oil | 11 730 | 11 167 | ||
| - Natural gas | 8 180 | 8 117 | ||
| Total heat consumption | 13 713 | 32 076 | ||
| Total electricity consumption at Konstancin-Jeziorna and ZKOs | 13 169 | 47 408 | 12 254 | 44 114 |
| Total energy consumption (total fuel consumption + total heat consumption + total electricity consumption at Konstancin-Jeziorna and ZKOs) | 96 567 | 108 219 | ||
| Electric energy losses in the transmission process | 1 611 270 | 5 800 572 | 1 669 042 | 6 008 551 |
| Total electricity sales | 2 413 | 8 687 | 2 017 | 7 261 |
Data source: PSE reports to GUS
Carbon footprint
Climate change, treated a few years ago as a distant future, is becoming increasingly evident in the world, and also in Poland. The consequences of the change are seen by scientists is one of the greatest challenges facing the humanity in the decades to come.
Most of the consequences of climate change in Poland, specified in the Ecological Policy of the State 2030, are definitely negative. They include, for example, drought causing a decrease in crops, interruptions or shortages of water supply, extreme weather phenomena such as heavy winds, violent rainfall causing flooding and heat waves adversely affecting human organisms.
In the energy industry, the effects of climate change may include increased electricity consumption in the summer, due to the increasingly common use of air conditioners, power cuts due to reduced generation at thermal power plants due to low water levels in rivers and relatively high water temperatures. In addition, the popularised development of electromobility will require more electricity production in the future. There is also an increase in the price of greenhouse gas emission allowances, which makes it necessary to remodel the energy mix.
PSE’s activities impact the operation of the power system in Poland, and thus contributes to some extent to the volume of greenhouse gas emissions. Like any organisation, our company also affects the climate through greenhouse gas emissions resulting from the combustion of fuels and the use of electricity or heat. In order to measure the impact of PSE’s activities on climate, we have decided to calculate our carbon footprint and include it in the Impact Report. Carbon footprint will be one of the indicators taken into account in assessing the activities of our organisation and used in managing our company.
PSE carbon footprint calculations have been performed in accordance with the international GHG Protocol Corporate Accounting and Reporting Standard. Our base year – i.e. the year for which we have calculated greenhouse gas emissions, against which we will compare emissions in the coming years – is 2017.
We have performed calculations for:
- the operations pursued by the entire organisation, i.e. by the head office at Konstancin-Jeziorna and the field subunits (ZKOs),
- execution of the transmission system operator’s tasks specified in applicable regulations.
The total amount of emissions generated by PSE in 2018 was 1.6 m tonnes of CO2 equivalent (according to the market-based method*).
The largest source of emissions was the consumption of electricity to cover transmission losses resulting from the activities of the transmission system operator, which represented approx. 99% of all greenhouse gas emissions.
The remaining 1 percent represents mainly the consumption of electricity at the head office and ZKOs, thermal energy consumption, SF6 emissions, and fuel combustion by company vehicles.
Mainly owing to the reduction of electric energy losses in transmission, reduction of greenhouse gas emissions was recorded in Scopes 1, 2, 3 by 3 percent year on year.
Scope 1 - Direct GHG emissions
| Direct GHG emissions | 4 139 | 4 450 |
| Konstancin-Jeziorna, ZKO: | 4 139 | 4 450 |
| - Petrol | 1 077 | 883 |
| - Diesel oil | 869 | 827 |
| - Natural gas | 459 | 455 |
| - SF6 | 1 579 | 2 082 |
| - HFC's | 155 | 202 |
Scope 2* - Electricity indirect GHG emissions (location-based method)
| Electricity indirect GHG emissions (location-based method) | 1 189 042 | 1 230 872 |
| Konstancin-Jeziorna, ZKO: | 11 204 | 10 802 |
| - Electric energy | 9 627 | 8 957 |
| - Thermal energy | 1 577 | 1 844 |
| Electric energy losses in the transmission process | 1 177 838 | 1 220 070 |
Scope 2* - Electricity indirect GHG emissions (market-based method)
| Electricity indirect GHG emissions (market-based method) | 1 620 155 | 1 676 917 |
| Konstancin-Jeziorna, ZKO: | 13 396 | 12 548 |
| - Electric energy | 11 819 | 10 704 |
| - Thermal energy | 1 577 | 1 844 |
| Electric energy losses in the transmission process | 1 606 758 | 1 664 369 |
Scope 3* - Other indirect GHG emissions
| Other indirect GHG emissions | 283 | 194 |
| Konstancin-Jeziorna, ZKO: | 283 | 194 |
| - Business trips - flights | 283 | 194 |
Scope 1 + 2 (location-based) + 3
| Scope 1 + 2 (location-based) + 3 | 1 193 463 | 1 235 516 |
Scope 1 + 2 (market-based) + 3
| Scope 1 + 2 (market-based) + 3 | 1 624 576 | 1 681 561 |
* For Scope 2 emissions, calculated in accordance with the location-based method, the emission factor for greenhouse gas emissions related to generation of an electric energy unit was the average factor for Poland, and for emissions calculated in accordance with the market-based method, emission factors specific to our electricity sellers were taken. For fuels, electric and thermal energy, emission factors and calorific values were taken on the basis of data from the National Centre for Emission Balancing and Management, whereas for SF6 and HFC gases GWP100 factors were taken in accordance with the 4th Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report.
*For Scope 3 emissions, it shows emissions related to air business trips of the company’s employees. The emission factors for air business travel were taken from the DEFRA (UK Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs) 2017 and 2018 database, and fuel and energy consumption data come from invoices and measurements. SF6 and HFC (hydrofluorocarbons – greenhouse gases) were calculated on the basis of gas top-ups. The distance travelled by air was calculated on the basis of the internal register and flight routes. No biogenic greenhouse gas emissions were identified. The greenhouse gas included in emission factors for fuels, electric and thermal energy is CO2.
| GRI 305-4 GHG emissions intensity ratio per electric energy unit taken off the grid | 2018 | 2017 |
|---|---|---|
| GHG Scope 1 + 2 emissions (location-based) + 3 [Mg CO2e] |
1 193 463 | 1 235 516 |
| Quantity of energy taken off the grid [MWh] |
107 089 437 | 102 646 083 |
| GHG/MWh of energy taken off the grid [Mg CO2e/MWh] |
0,0111 | 0,0120 |
Carbon footprint is the sum of greenhouse gas emissions produced directly or indirectly by a person, organisation, event or product. It includes the emissions of carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide and other greenhouse gases, expressed in CO2 equivalent. Carbon footprint of an organisation includes emissions caused by all its activities. Its measure is Mg CO2e – tonne (megagram) of carbon dioxide equivalent.
Carbon footprint is one of the key tools of contemporary environmental management. It is of an international nature and is used increasingly often by business operators as a basic method of improving business performance.