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SmVaK, FCC Aqualia’s subsidiary opera-
ting in the Czech Republic and Poland, will
start to reduce its carbon footprint by taking
advantage of the energy potential of water
in small hydroelectric plants and by using
residual gas in the cogeneration systems.
Based on the tests carried out, these mea-
sures will contribute to reducing the carbon
dioxide (CO
2
) emissions to air by more than
5,000 tons.
The commitment to taking care of the en-
vironment and respect for our surroundings
is one of the priorities of FCC in its day-to-
day activities. This is underscored by the
initiative of SmVaK who will be shortly im-
plementing a series of measures with the
aim of reducing greenhouse gas emissions
after confirming the efficacy of these mea-
sures in a thorough analysis.
The studies conducted validated the effi-
cacy of the tests performed by SmVaK to
produce electric energy by taking advanta-
ge of the hydroelectric potential of water as
well as by means of the cogeneration sys-
tems installed in the wastewater treatment
plants. The analyses also took into account
the production of heat from the biogas ge-
nerated in the sludge treatment systems at
the wastewater treatment plants.
Anatol Pšenička, managing director of
SmVaK, highlighted the progress made
in this respect: “In 2014, there was a re-
duction of 1,884 tons of CO
2
thanks to
the operation of seven small hydroelectric
plants and another 2,161 tons as a result
of electricity produced by the cogeneration
SmVaK
implements measures to reduce CO
2
emissions by more than 5,000 tons per year
Calculating SmVaK’s carbon footprint
The identified greenhouse gases were as follows: carbon dioxide (CO
2
), metha-
ne (CH
4
) and nitrogen oxide (N
2
O). All are expressed as carbon dioxide equiva-
lents, known as the carbon footprint according to the internationally accepted
denomination.
As expressed and underscored by Martina Javorková, SmVaK’s quality manager,
“in 2014, most of the company’s carbon footprint was due to the purchased electric
energy which accounted for more than half. One fourth was caused by dissolved
methane and 6% was generated by the use of fossil fuel. Other factors accounted
for a significantly lower impact”.
6% of SmVak’s carbon footprint is due to the use of fossil fuels.
systems. The use of biogas for producing
heat contributed to reducing emissions by
another 1,428 tons. We are confirming that
our activities in this respect make sense
and our intention is to continue to develop
these initiatives”, he said.