ZPPS Hrušky

The first of these projects, the construction of ZPPS Hrušky 5, follows on from the already operational ZPPS Borkovany power plant, which we reported on in previous issues of Report. It is expected that, once ZPPS Hrušky 5 is completed, both power plants will be operated in a single aggregation block, thereby expanding the capacity of the joint production block and the potential for business opportunities in the electricity market and power balance services for ČEPS.

The plant is being built on the site of the former SNaPS Hrušky 5 centre, which is no longer used for mining purposes. This location is advantageous for the project in terms of its connection to the electricity distribution network and the MND gas pipeline for fuel gas supply.

The ZPPS Hrušky 5 source has an installed electrical capacity of 435 kWe. The production unit itself, supplied by Gentec CHP, is powered by a MAN piston combustion engine running on natural gas. The electrical power from the unit's motor generator is fed into the EG.D. electricity grid via a newly built 630 kVA transformer station and a high-voltage substation via the existing VN 64 high-voltage line owned by MND, a. s.

The natural gas fuel for the unit will be taken from the MND gas pipeline carrying gas from the Hrušky 23 centre around the Hrušky 5 site to the Hrušky 46 centre. The turnkey project is being supplied by Gentec CHP.

The project is currently structurally complete and is in the phase prior to testing the entire facility. In addition to completing the legislative construction process, we are also dealing with the formalities and tasks involved in connecting the production source to the EG.D. distribution system, which will enable continuous operation within the distribution system.

In parallel, during November, we will apply for a change to the electricity generation licence from the Energy Regulatory Office (ERÚ) and then register the new source with the Energy Market Operator (OTE). The source must also be certified for regulatory energy supply services for ČEPS.

The entire connection and certification process has clear procedural and deadline dependencies at the institutions concerned, which makes the process time-consuming. We expect to commission ZPPS Hrušky, including all the above-mentioned legislative requirements, at the beginning of 2026.

After commissioning, the plant will be operated by MND and commercially utilised and managed by the Trading Division in Prague, which also manages the aforementioned ZPPS facility in Borkovany. We will inform you about the final completion of the ZPPS Hrušky 5 project in one of the next issues of the MND Report.

KVET Ždánice

The construction of the KVET SNaPS Ždánice, which aims to increase the efficiency of energy use required for oil and natural gas processing, is also nearing completion. A TEDOM cogeneration unit with an electrical output of 124 kW and a thermal output of 181 kW has been installed here, which will consume natural gas processed at the centre for its operation.

The cogeneration unit will cover approximately 70% of the centre's current electricity consumption and 70-90% of its heat energy consumption. The efficiency of the input fuel energy will be over 75%, which will place this system in the category of high-efficiency combined heat and power generation under the legislation.

The technology is currently complete in terms of construction, and functional and comprehensive testing of the equipment is underway. Steps have been taken towards the approval process, enabling permanent operation by the electricity distributor EG.D. and the addition of the source to the electricity production licence at the ERÚ. We expect the KVET SNaPS Ždánice to start operating at the beginning of 2026.