High commodity prices and the energy crisis are currently affecting the lives of almost all Europeans. This is no different in Slovakia, which is why today everyone is looking for ways to save money and reduce rising energy costs. In our interview we will talk about the possibilities of savings, energy prices and ways of saving with Ing. Miroslav Pajchl, Director of Heat Production and Distribution of ENGIE Group.
Before we move on to the actual measures, let’s say what energy prices can your customers expect in the coming period?
This is probably a question that is of interest to all our subscribers. Unfortunately, there is currently no straightforward answer. The final prices will be known during November and December, after the price procedure at the Office for Regulation of Network Industries (ÚRSO) is completed.
The bad news is that they will certainly be higher, compared to the previous period. On the other hand, there is also good news, namely that price increases may be mitigated by regulatory price measures adopted at European and national level, and also that, despite the still high gas and electricity prices, we are currently seeing a fall in them.
Our Group also operates 8 boiler plants in Slovakia that use wood chips as an important renewable energy source for heat production. Its price has increased by more than 100% year-on-year. In the case of wood chips, we consider it essential for the state to adopt measures that will restrict their export, encourage the processing of wood in Slovakia and give priority to the production of energy from this renewable source.
So higher energy costs are certainly unavoidable. Can we influence their amount by saving?
It certainly does. There are countless ways in which residents can save energy. We have also published a list of energy-saving measures on our website that will reduce your heating and hot water consumption.
Could you mention some of them?
Some of the measures are simple, often known to the customers themselves, but sometimes forgotten. Yet they are very effective.
- Reduce room temperature in rooms (1°C = 6% extra energy)
- Correctly set the thermostatic head
- Close the door
- Do not overlap radiators
- Ventilate briefly and vigorously (3-5 minutes)
- Leave blinds and curtains open
- Check window and door seals
These are measures that customers can implement themselves. However, there are also measures that can be implemented on the part of the heat supplier or the administrators of residential buildings.
Yes, in this case we are talking about the optimal setting of the parameters for the supply of central heating and domestic hot water (DHW), which will reduce energy consumption and save costs. However, the setting options vary depending on whether the customer has a separate heat source (boiler house or its own heat transfer station) or is part of a distribution system with other customers.
Let’s be specific.
If the customer place (house) has a separate heat source (boiler house/heat transfer station), the new supply parameters can be set according to the customer’s requirements.
In the case of DHW supply, it is possible, for example, to set the parameters for the equithermic curve (the dependence of the heating water temperature on the outside temperature), the nighttime attenuation, or the duration of the attenuation. For DHW supply, the parameters for DHW temperature during operation and attenuation are set. In addition, the actual damping time can be set.
And what if the point of consumption does not have a separate heat source?
In this case, it is important to note that it is part of a distribution system to which other points of consumption are connected, not just one particular customer. While the latter may request a change in the parameters of the DHW and DHW supply, in order for the supplier to implement the proposed change, it must obtain the consent of all the customer points supplied from the distribution system in question. This is sometimes difficult in reality.
What other measures can be implemented on the part of the customer or the administrator of the apartment building?
Investment. The basic investment measures include the installation of control elements and equithermal control.
Regulating elements are installed as part of the implementation of the hydraulic regulation of the building distribution of the central heating system directly at the entrance to the point of consumption. Their function is to limit the flow of heating water depending on the pressure conditions in the building system. Part of the hydraulic regulation is, of course, the installation of thermostatic heads on the heating elements. In addition to manual heads, there are also electronic heads available on the market today, on which the end user can set the individual mode of heating of individual rooms in the apartment.
Equithermal control is also installed at the inlet to the point of use and allows the temperature of the heated water to be lowered relative to the supplied heating water. The consumer can then adjust the attenuation modes at his own discretion.
In addition, as part of the investment measures, I would like to mention the repair of the insulation of the building’s UK and DHW distribution systems, or, of the longer-term ones, the replacement of windows, the installation of solar panels, or the insulation of the building.
We are still only talking about heat supply measures at the points of consumption. However, can the final price to the customer also be influenced by the heat producer and supplier itself? How?
It clearly can. This is by taking care of the operation of the heat management in a given city, municipality or urban district. I mean not only year-round operation and maintenance, but also long-term investments in the modernisation of technical equipment, technology or replacement of pipelines.
How does the ENGIE Group in Slovakia contribute to reducing the negative impact of the energy crisis on its customers?
The ENGIE Group currently operates 20 thermal power plants in all regions of Slovakia. We are aware that to ensure efficient operation of heat sources and the entire heat management system, it is necessary to continuously invest in its development. Therefore, over the last 10 years we have invested almost EUR 25 million in the renewal of thermal power plants. Investments in modernisation are a necessity for heating companies. Thanks to them, we streamline operations, ensure stability of supply (without unnecessary interruptions caused by repairs) and, last but not least, reduce the cost of heat for customers.
Another equally important part of our plans is to support the development of renewable energy sources. In Slovakia, I am referring mainly to the production of heat from wood chips. It is wood chips that account for 25% of our fuel mix. Thanks to this, we are reducing our dependence on natural gas and, in the event of favourable prices for the commodity, the final price of heat for consumers. As I mentioned, we currently operate 8 woodchip-fired boiler plants. In the future, we are planning to build new biomass boiler plants or to connect additional consumption points to the existing ones.
In conclusion, I would just like to mention that the ENGIE Group, in addition to many years of experience, expertise, and a number of reference projects, also has the international know-how of the ENGIE parent company. This is what allows it to keep up with the times, to implement modern and innovative solutions that also contribute to reducing the negative impact of the energy crisis on its customers.
So your subscribers won’t be alone.
It certainly doesn’t. I would like to assure them that we will continue to provide them with a stable, quality energy supply and will do everything in our power to ensure that they feel the negative effects of the crisis as little as possible.