Two major players in the Czech economy, ORLEN Unipetrol and ČEZ ESCO, are joining forces in the energy sector. Under the memorandum of cooperation signed today, both companies have expressed their intention to collaborate on energy modernisation, energy efficiency projects, e-mobility solutions and other initiatives in the field of modern energy. One of their first joint projects will involve the supply of renewable electricity from a ČEZ solar power plant, which ORLEN Unipetrol will purchase under a ten-year electricity supply agreement backed by guarantees of origin.
ORLEN Unipetrol and ČEZ ESCO expect to expand their cooperation in areas including energy modernisation, commodity supplies, energy-saving solutions, the construction of solar power plants and EV charging infrastructure, as well as other development activities in the field of modern energy. The cooperation has already resulted in more than 20 EV charging points and the supply of certified zero-emission electricity from a new ČEZ solar power plant directly to the ORLEN Unipetrol refinery.
Today, the supply of zero-emission electricity is no longer limited to on-site generation. Off-site PPAs make it possible to purchase electricity from a specific renewable energy source that may be located hundreds of kilometers away. ORLEN Unipetrol has taken advantage of this opportunity by signing a ten-year agreement with ČEZ ESCO, securing the entire annual output of a new ČEZ solar power plant in Růžodol near Litvínov. The solar power plant, which is currently nearing completion at an industrial waste storage site, will have an installed capacity of 9.65 MW and will generate approximately 10 GWh of zero-emission electricity annually.
“The transformation of industry and transport towards a low- and zero-emission future is naturally interconnected within the ORLEN Unipetrol Group. ČEZ is a partner with whom we can develop modern energy solutions for both our industrial sites and our network of service stations. The ten-year agreement for the supply of electricity from the new solar power plant near the Litvínov refinery is the first tangible result of this partnership. The memorandum we have signed also opens up opportunities for further joint projects, including in the field of high-speed EV charging. Today, our own ORLEN Charge network comprises several dozen high-speed charging points at ten service stations. By 2030, we aim to increase this number to 600, covering major transport routes and other high-traffic locations across the Czech Republic,” says Agnieszka Bobrukiewicz, Member of the Board of Directors of the ORLEN Unipetrol Group responsible for retail in the Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia and Austria, and Executive Director for the Non-Fuel Segment at the ORLEN Group.
“ORLEN Unipetrol is one of our key energy customers, and we now want to significantly expand our cooperation. We will focus on energy-saving solutions, new solar power plants and the development of EV charging infrastructure,” says Kamil Čermák, CEO of ČEZ ESCO. “Both the ČEZ Group and ORLEN Unipetrol have long-standing roots in the North Bohemian region and are committed to its future. They help ensure reliable supplies of energy and fuels and are also major employers in the region. One of the first examples of our cooperation is therefore the agreement for the supply of electricity from ČEZ’s new solar power plant in Růžodol near Záluží. We see significant potential in this model for delivering renewable electricity in the future and intend to conclude similar agreements with other major industrial companies.”
Solar power plants in the Ústí Region are leading the way in the use of off-site PPAs, which offer clear benefits to both parties. Customers benefit from a secure, long-term supply of electricity at a fixed price, while producers gain the certainty of stable demand and predictable revenues from their power plants.
ORLEN Unipetrol is the largest refining and petrochemical company in the Czech Republic. It is wholly owned by the Polish ORLEN Group. The company processes crude oil and produces fuels, plastics, and fertilizers. It operates two refineries in Litvínov and Kralupy nad Vltavou with a total processing capacity of 8.7 million metric tons of crude oil per year, as well as the ORLEN network of gas stations. It employs thousands of people in the Czech Republic. Since 2005, it has been part of the Polish ORLEN Group, which has been its 100% owner since 2018. For more information, visit ORLEN Unipetrol.
ČEZ ESCO (Energy Service Company) focuses on services in the areas of modern energy, decarbonization, and reducing the carbon footprint for industrial customers, municipalities, and institutions. These include, for example, energy audits and consulting, the construction and operation of cogeneration units, the implementation of metering systems, the modernization of district heating systems, and the installation of photovoltaic power plants. ČEZ ESCO is also active in the field of electromobility and provides electricity, gas, and heat supply; electricity procurement; emissions trading; and the operation and maintenance of energy equipment. The company has approximately 2,000 employees. Its subsidiaries include, for example, ČEZ Teplárenská, AirPlus, AZ KLIMA, CAPEXUS, ČEZ ENERGO, EP Rožnov, ENESA, ESL, HORMEN, and KART. For more information, visit https://www.cezesco.cz/.
Contact: Pavel Kaidl,
spokesperson, telephone: +420 736 502 520, e-mail: pavel.kaidl@orlenunipetrol.cz