Počerady Power Station
| Počerady Power Station | |
|---|---|
| Country | Czech Republic |
| Location | Volevčice |
| Coordinates | 50°26′N 13°41′E / 50.43°N 13.68°E |
| Status | Operational |
| Construction began | 1964 |
| Commission date |
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| Owner | Vršanská uhelná |
| Operator |
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| Thermal power station | |
| Primary fuel | |
| Power generation | |
| Nameplate capacity |
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| Annual net output |
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| External links | |
| Commons | Related media on Commons |
The Počerady Power Station is a coal-fired power station in the Czech Republic. It is located in the municipality of Volevčice in the Ústí nad Labem Region, near the village of Počerady, from which it takes its name. It is operated by Vršanská uhelná, a part of the Sev.en AG group owned by Pavel Tykač.[1][2]
The total installed capacity of the station is 5× 200 MW, with an annual electricity production of approximately 6000 GWh. Its coal supply comes from the nearby Vršany mine. The power station was commissioned between 1970 and 1977 and has undergone desulfurization and modernization.
History
The construction of the power station occurred in two phases. In 1970 and 1971, four units (Počerady I) were commissioned. The construction led to the displacement and demolition of the village Třískolupy and the Mastný Dvůr farm. In 1977, two additional units (Počerady II) were commissioned. The first unit was decommissioned in 1994, and the remaining five units underwent a modernization program.
Desulfurization of two units was completed in 1994, and the remaining three were desulfurized in 1996. From 1997, the station transitioned from hydraulic ash and slag removal to a dry ash collection process, producing stabilizer material (a mix of fly ash, gypsum, slag, water, and 1–3% quicklime).
The total installed capacity of the plant is 1000 MW.
As of 2018, the station was the largest centralized source of pollution in the Czech Republic, emitting over 5.5 million tons of carbon dioxide annually.[3]
Following reconstruction, the station met most updated emission limits but failed to comply with mercury limits. Operations were expected to cease in August 2021, though the operator could seek partial and temporary exceptions.
Technical specifications
| Installed capacity | Commissioning date | Modernized and desulfurized | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Počerady I | 4×200 MW | 1970–1971 | 1994–2000 | Unit 1 dismantled in 1994 |
| Počerady II | 2×200 MW | 1977 | 1994–2000 | |
| Combined-cycle power station | 2× gas turbines (284 MW each) + 1× steam turbine (270 MW), total 838 MW | c. 2013 | – | New gas-fired power station |
Coal supply
The station's primary coal source is the nearby Vršany mine, owned by the same operator, Vršanská uhelná.[4] Coal is transported via railway from the Most Basin surface mines. The station is supplied with water from the Ohře River.
Sale to Pavel Tykač
In 2017, a dispute arose over whether the ČEZ energy company should sell the power station to a firm controlled by controversial businessman Pavel Tykač. The Supervisory Board of ČEZ initially postponed its decision[5] before rejecting the sale in May 2017, despite the Vršanská uhelná offering 10 billion CZK. However, in 2019, ČEZ confirmed the sale to Sev.en AG.[6]
In October 2020, the sale price was increased from 2 to 2.5 billion CZK, and the station was officially transferred in early 2021.
Criticism
The power station has been criticized for its health and environmental impacts, including an estimated 111 premature deaths annually due to air pollution.[7]
Combined-cycle power station
In March 2010, ČEZ announced the construction of a combined-cycle power station at Počerady, with a planned capacity of 880 MW and 70% lower carbon dioxide emissions compared to coal. Operations began in April 2013.[8]
References
- ^ "C Výpis z obchodního rejstříku: Elektrárna Počerady, a.s., B 2814 vedená u Krajského soudu v Ústí nad Labem". Veřejný rejstřík a sbírka listin (in Czech). Retrieved 6 October 2025.
- ^ "O tři roky dřív převezme hnědouhelnou elektrárnu Počerady firma Sev.en Energy. Dohodnutá cena se zvýší o 2,5 miliardy" (in Czech). Czech Radio. 25 October 2020. Retrieved 6 October 2025.
- ^ "Největším znečišťovatelem ovzduší v Česku je elektrárna Počerady". E15 (in Czech). 2 April 2019. Retrieved 6 October 2025.
- ^ Koželouh, Jiří (5 November 2020). "Nejasná zpráva o konci Počerad". Deník Referendum (in Czech). Retrieved 6 October 2025.
- ^ "Rozhodnutí o prodeji elektrárny Počerady se odkládá". ČT24 (in Czech). Czech Television. 24 April 2017. Retrieved 7 October 2025.
- ^ "Elektrárna Počerady už patří Tykačově skupině Sev.en. Převod od společnosti ČEZ se uskutečnil na Silvestra" (in Czech). Czech Radio. 1 January 2021. Retrieved 7 October 2025.
- ^ "Elektrárna Počerady předčasně zabije 111 lidí ročně a 1000 zasáhne nadlimitním spadem rtuti" (in Czech). Greenpeace Czech Republic. 3 October 2019. Retrieved 4 October 2025.
- ^ "Počerady pro Čendu, Fandu nebo Tykače". Respekt (in Czech). 20 December 2019. Retrieved 4 October 2025.