United Energy, a.s. - English version

In accordance with stricter requirements to emission reduction there was carried out an essential environmental improvement of the source. It consisted of a change of grate boilers for boilers with fluidized beds. In that time this environmental solution was unique in the Czech Republic. The boiler retrofitting was done under full source operation, i .e. without interrupting heat supplies to Most and Litvínov. Next to changing the grates for fluidized beds the pressure systems were adapted, more efficient solids textile filters were introduced, the boilers were equipped with continual gas and solid compound emission measurement and other necessary utilities were installed. The stationary fluidized bed process uses lime stone dosing directly to the fluidized bed together with the coal. Its quality to bound sulphur is utilized so that the desulphurization is carried out. This modern process contributes not only to sulphur oxides reduction but to reduction of nitrogen and solids as well. The total investment reached CZK 4.5 billion. The Komoøany Heating Plant life extended with 25 years more which represents an important stabilizing factor in the labour market in the region.
The heating plant operation meets the requirements of the European Union to operate the best available processes, next it makes the Czech legislation more restrictive with regards to the air protection. The Komoøany Heating Plant was issued an integrated permission in which the Company voluntarily obliged to keep stricter sulphur oxide emission limits than the valid legal air protection regulations are.

The central heat distribution represents an environmentally friendly way of heating in cities and in industrial park companies. The central heating has substituted housing block boiler rooms and local stoves that polluted the air in the districts of Chomutov and Most a great deal.
The Company started another important environmental improvement in Litvínov in 1993 when the hot water network was developed directly in the towns themselves, concretely the Company got involved into the heat feeder construction for the town´s eastern part. Its completion in 1995 enabled to stop 12 boiler rooms burning brown coal, light heating oil and heavy heating oil. Litvinov´s citizens valuated the removal of these local air pollution sources very positively.

The biggest waste volume comes into existence after combustion processes in all Company´s heating plants. That is why in 1998 – 2002 a certifying process was started in order to utilize this material to products that are in demand in civil constructions, road and railway transport but for landscape reclamation after open cast mining and revitalization of the landscape as well. This certified product – especially its active ash from Komoøany Heating Plant fluidized bed burning has become and important trading commodity.
A consequent requirement to waste sorting resulting from the heat and power generation contributes to the increase of secondary raw material utilization and recycling. The share of waste volume deposited to waste dumps or disposed of in another way after the law is reduced.