Polski
On October 5-6 this year. The PRECOP28 climate conference was held at the International Congress Center (ICC) in Katowice. The main event of the second day was the signing of an agreement between the Spodek and ICC manager and the energy company Respect Energy. As a result, as early as 2024. Green energy is expected to completely cover the energy needs of both facilities.
Climate conference PRECOP28 in Katowice, Poland
Representatives from the political, economic and scientific worlds met in Katowice, Poland, two months ahead of the UN Climate Summit in Dubai (COP28), to develop a common position for the upcoming deliberations. This was the second edition of PRECOP, and one of its main topics was green energy, specifically the transformation process of the energy sector. They primarily debated methods of eliminating fossil fuels and reducing the climate impact of energy in general.
Other important issues raised at PRECOP28 included the planned zero-carbon transportation sector and a circular economy in which resources are used rationally and waste is used 100 percent. processed. A lot of attention was also paid to climate education and the transparency of institutions’ and companies’ activities.
Green energy for Spodek and ICC
The fact that conferences are not just for theoretical discussions was evident on October 6. On the second day of PRECOP28 and in the spirit of its main objectives, a groundbreaking agreement was signed between PTWP Event Center, which manages the Katowice Spodek and the ICC, and Respect Energy Group, whose specialty is green energy from various sources.
As a result, Respect Energy, as an energy supplier, has pledged that as early as 2024. Both Katowice facilities will be powered exclusively by renewable energy. Today, the company already buys energy from more than 600 solar, wind, hydroelectric and biogas plants and sends it to its customers through a distribution network. Green energy in the mix is soon to be accumulated in large-scale storage facilities that will facilitate covering the needs of various consumers, Sebastian Jablonski, president of Respect Energy, announced in an interview with Rzeczpospolita.
Both parties to the agreement stressed the importance of the new cooperation and the opportunities it could provide in the future. Marcin Stolarz, president of PTWP Event Center, called it a new chapter in the sustainable management of the Spodek and the ICC. Symbolically sealing the signing of the agreement was the illumination of the entire Spodek in green.
Reducing emissions in Katowice’s Cultural Zone
With green energy replacing traditional, fossil-fuel-based energy, the annual carbon dioxide output of the Spodek and ICC is expected to be reduced by more than 5,000. t. This is a very important step towards environmental protection, but also an important image promotion for both facilities.
Sebastian Jablonski of Respect Energy said he hoped the initiative would also inspire energy transformation for other entrepreneurs. The mere fact that the agreement was signed as part of the PRECOP28 deliberations is an optimistic message for the UN Climate Summit, which begins on November 30.
Not only green energy – other pro-environmental initiatives at the Katowice Spodek
The green energy transition is not the first or last step in the environmental policy of the Spodek and the ICC. PTWP Event Center, which manages them, has been investing in solutions to improve the environment for years.
A key environmentally friendly project was the replacement of traditional lighting, in which Katowickie Inwestycje S.A. participated. Thanks to the installation of energy-efficient LEDs in some areas of the facilities, such as the ice rink, it was possible to achieve energy savings of 70 percent. Lighting replacement will continue in the coming years.
As of 2017. A system for managing and optimizing electricity consumption is also in operation at the Spodek and the ICC. By constantly monitoring the temperature in the interiors, energy losses are reduced. Both facilities are cooled with night air, and the ICC additionally has an intelligent heating and supply management system.
The use of lighting in the interiors is closely monitored and regulated by an astronomical clock. To reduce water consumption, PTWP Event Center uses rainwater accumulated in retention tanks to water the greenery. Both facilities also have full waste segregation, which applies not only to day-to-day operations, but also to installation and dismantling work.
As part of the green transformation, the ICC is also planning to install photovoltaic panels, which will generate additional energy savings and translate into reduced emissions.
Summarizing all of the above environmental activities, the choice of venue for PRECOP28 should come as no surprise. PTWP Event Center’s actions are inspiring and set an example for authorities of similar facilities across the country to follow.
Photo source: PRECOP28
