PSE’s priorities concerning environmental protection

For identified significant environmental aspects, the company defines the internal rules of procedure and supervision, aimed to ensure compliance with all legal requirements and the best possible conservation of natural resources.

We pursue a number of activities which further the achievement of the following objectives:

• meeting the permitted electromagnetic field levels in the environment outside the line right of way, as required by law,
• selecting locations for new projects that make it possible to limit the construction of power facilities in residential development areas,
• maintaining systems and equipment in good working order,
• advanced technological solutions for equipment and systems.

We perform tasks that contribute to meeting the permissible noise levels in the environment as required by law. This is achieved through measures relating to:

• selecting locations that make it possible to limit the construction of power facilities in residential development areas,
• quality control of the work performed,
• maintaining systems and equipment in good working order.

As a result of our activities, sanitary sewage is generated which is discharged into the combined sewer system, into the ground or into waters. Sewage discharged to the ground or into waters is previously treated in biological sewage treatment plants reducing the content of pollutants in sewage. There are biological sewage treatment plants on the sites of network facilities, using various treatment methods, including active sludge and sprinkling bed.

After treatment, they meet the requirements of law and water management permits. In accordance with the applicable laws and regulations, sewage treatment facilities undergo periodic maintenance and inspections. The quality of the sewage released into the environment is also subject to periodic control.

The volume of sewage is determined on the basis of the quantity of water consumed. There are biological sewage treatment plants on the sites of network facilities, using various treatment methods, including active sludge and sprinkling bed.

For many years, we have performed selective collection of waste generated by the activities carried out at the site of grid assets and on the premises of PSE and its field units. In order to standardise the rules of handing waste, the “Instructions for waste management at PSE S.A.” have been prepared which apply both to waste generated by PSE and by third parties in the course of operation, maintenance, failure recovery, and new build and repair projects. One of the appendices to the Instructions is dedicated in whole to the rules of correct sorting of municipal waste generated by human living activities.

The office buildings and all electrical substations have been equipped with containers for selective collection of waste (including paper, plastics, glass, metals, spent life sources, batteries and oil-contaminated absorbent). Most waste is collected at the place of generation. The rooms, areas and containers in which the different waste types are collected are duly marked.

Correct sorting is also checked during inspections carried out on the sites of facilities. Presentation of the rules and obligations concerning waste sorting is one of the permanent training topics for the company’s newly hired employees.

Typical hazardous waste generated at our substations include e.g. spent mineral oils, batteries and absorbents. The greatest amount of waste is produced during work related to the implementation of upgrade investment projects, in particular the upgrading and construction of power facilities. The producers of that waste are contractors and they are responsible for the management of the waste, and in the case of waste with a value the waste producer is PSE.

To ensure that contractors’ waste management activities comply with the applicable regulations, permanent supervision is maintained on the site of operating facilities and during the execution of investment projects.

We take measures to:

• curtail the risk of emergency situation through preventive measures and the correct maintenance of facilities,
• maintain readiness to mitigate the environmental impact of failures caused by infrastructure owned by the company.

The number of SF₆ gas spills in 2018 decreased by 50 percent compared with the previous year. In the case of insulating oil coolant spills, a decrease was also reported compared with 2017.

Devices containing a large quantity of insulating oil – transformers – are equipped with appropriate protection features, oil trays, which must contain emergency oil dump in the event of an uncontrolled spill. In 2018, one significant spill of insulating oil having a negative environmental impact was recorded. The company is currently carrying on work to restore equipment to the pre-failure condition. In the event that it was not possible to capture oil due to the type of failure, the contaminated soil was stripped and handed over for disposal.

The activities of maintenance services were consistent with the procedures in force at the company and relevant to the situation.

On substation sites, PSE operates equipment containing substances that may cause pollution when released into the environment.

Such substances include mainly:

• insulating oil (transformers, oil circuit breakers, instrument transformers, shunt reactors, circuit breakers, capacitors),
• diesel oil (power generating sets),
• acids (battery electrolytes).

Due to the risk of equipment failure and related risk of spill of the above-mentioned substances, we endeavour to reduce their negative environmental impact as much as possible.

For this purpose, the following have been prepared: “Operational instructions for handling failures at an electrical substation of PSE S.A. posing the risk of environmental pollution with insulation oil” and “Operational instructions for handling hazardous substance spillage”, which also apply on the premises of Field Subunits (ZKOs).

Each facility is equipped with “environmental first aid kits” – portable sets of absorbents for the collection of small spills to prevent spillage from spreading.

We do not carry on any production activity and therefore water consumption at our headquarters and at the substations is small. Nevertheless, we monitor water consumption under the Environmental Management System. Water is supplied to our substation facilities from our own deep wells and from commune or municipal water mains.

Wells are a source of supply to our 13 extra-high voltage substations. At the substation facilities, water is used for personal purposes of the substation personnel and for firefighting purposes. Each substation is equipped with a fire water reservoir (or reservoirs) with a capacity of 50 m³.

At the substations with transformer units equipped with fire extinguishing systems, a small quantity of reservoir water is consumed for sprinkler system tests which are performed once a year. The measurement of consumer water quantity is based on the main water meter readings.

At our headquarters in Konstancin-Jeziorna, we use our own water intake. We have two deep wells. Water supplied to the offices of field units comes from municipal mains.

The data presented in the table below have been collated from water meter readings at the sites with their own water intakes, and from water supply invoices for the facilities using water mains.