2021
Integrated
Report

Environment

The ORLEN Group uses renewable and non-renewable natural resources in its operations. All our business activities are carried out in a responsible manner, with due consideration to the effects of current and future environmental impacts.

GRI Disclosures:

In production processes we use renewable resources (air, water, esters, bioethanol) and non-renewable ones (crude oil, natural gas and auxiliary chemicals). 

We take care to ensure that our production processes are environmentally friendly: our projects involved adaptation of plant and process units to new environmental requirements and standards defined in the EU regulations and BAT Conclusions. Those efforts include also administrative work to have the terms of the integrated permits for the Group’s plants amended, as well as capex projects related to the production plant and equipment. 

It is a priority for the ORLEN Group to monitor and minimise its environmental footprint. To this end:

 

  • We identify the environmental aspects of our technological processes, and we seek to minimise their impacts on the natural environment and human life and health; 
  • We comply with the requirements stipulated under integrated permits secured for our installations; 
  • We effectively manage carbon emission allowances; 
  • We implement investment projects to adapt process units to new environmental requirements and standards; 
  • We ensure effective water and wastewater management; 
  • We efficiently manage environmental remediation projects while maintaining and stimulating biodiversity; 
  • We invest in low- and zero-emission technologies and renewables; 
  • We engage in initiatives that promote environmental awareness and social responsibility; 
  • We provide access to information on the environmental impact of our operations and on efforts taken to improve workplace health and safety standards and implement best practices of the Responsible Care programme. 

Our approach to environmental protection management is based on the principles of corporate social responsibility and takes into account environmental criteria. We aim for sustainable development and we report the results of our environmental protection efforts. Our environmental objectives are set out in the Integrated Management System Policy. 

Our activities are carried out based on the Integrated Management System, which includes:  

These systems meet the highest international management standards and support the Company’s day-to-day efforts to ensure professional customer service and maintain top quality, safety, health protection and environmental standards. The key ORLEN Group companies have Integrated Management Systems in place, which include an Environmental Management System implemented and maintained in accordance with the ISO 14001 standard as their integral part. The Group companies also follow Integrated Management System/ Environmental Management System policies, providing for an obligation to protect the environment, which includes pollution prevention and other specific obligations relevant to the operations of individual companies. These policies also include a requirement to comply with the law and other external and internal requirements. 

For further information on key policies and procedures governing climate and environmental protection issues at the ORLEN Group, see ‘Policies and internal regulations’ ; for further information on the projects implemented in 2021, see ‘Climate responsibility’. 

This Integrated Report also describes initiatives and metrics for key climate and environmental impact aspects, such as water and wastewater management, atmospheric emissions (including GHG emissions), waste, capital expenditure on environmental protection, environmental complaints, number and weight of significant spills. This Report presents the Group’s approach to energy management, information on raw materials and production processes, environmental and climate impact risks and the mitigation measures. 

With regard to the foregoing, PKN ORLEN has in place a dedicated procedure to be followed in emergency situations and respects the obligations to notify the relevant services.

The Emergency Manual defines the procedure for appointment and operation of Technical Teams and Emergency Teams, as well as the method of calculating losses resulting from an emergency event. 

 The ORLEN Group initiates educational projects aimed at raising the environmental awareness of its stakeholders. Group companies take part in initiatives such as protecting peregrine falcons, fish stocking of rivers, cleaning of waterfront areas, and beekeeping in the vicinity of production plants. For more information, see ‘Biodiversity protection’.  

  • 303-1

Water

Total amount of water withdrawn by the ORLEN Group [m3]

Surface water [m3]

Groundwater [m3]

Mains water [m3]

  • 306-2

Waste

Waste generated by the ORLEN Group* [Mg]

Hazardous waste [Mg]

Non-hazardous waste [Mg]

* Does not include municipal waste.

  • 306-4

Transfer of waste

Cross-border transport of hazardous waste from the ORLEN Group [Mg]

  • 303-4

Effluents

Total amount of wastewater discharged into the environment by the ORLEN Group [m³]

Industrial wastewater ORLEN [m³]

Other wastewater [m³]

Environmental fees and charges

Total environmental fees and charges paid by the ORLEN Group [EUR]

Total air emissions [EUR]

Water withdrawal [EUR]

Discharge of wastewater [EUR]

Landfilling of waste [EUR]

Capital expenditure on environmental protection

Expenditure on environmental projects at the ORLEN Group [EURm]

  • 307-1

Penalties for non-compliance with environmental regulations [EUR thousand]

  • 103-2

Complaints

Number of complaints filed and handled at the ORLEN Group [number]

  • 306-3

Significant spills

Number of spills [number]

Volume of spills [Mg]

  • OG-14

Use of biocomponents meeting sustainability criteria

Esters [tonne]

Bioethanol [tonne]

ENERGY CONSUMPTION WITHIN THE ORGANISATION
2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 GRI 302-1
Value [GJ] Value [MWh] Value [GJ] Value [MWh] Value [GJ] Value [MWh] Value [GJ] Value [MWh] Value [GJ] Value [MWh]
Energy consumption in fuels 127,109,144 35,308,096 122,710,174 34,086,160 98,769,007 27,435,835 84,187,991 23,385,553 83,280,501 23,133,472 measured since 2017
Electricity consumption 87,802,638 24,389,622 57,981,914 16,106,087 2,304,094 640,026 2,211,043 614,179 2,187,400 607,611 measured since 2017
Heat consumption 169,386 47,052 12,186 3,385 5,579,603 1,549,890 6,825,492 1,895,970 6,252,290 1,736,747 measured since 2017
Electricity sold 111,774,896 31,048,582 83,978,114 23,327,254 33,938,256 9,427,293 24,984,321 6,940,089 24,786,031 6,885,009 measured since 2017
Heat sold 6,776,557 1,882,377 5,282,174 1,467,271 36,321,662 10,089,351 34,012,153 9,447,820 35,262,356 9,795,099 measured since 2017
Total consumption 96,529,714 26,813,810 91,443,986 25,401,107 28,509,089 7,919,191 25,191,517 6,997,644 23,232,114 6,453,365 measured since 2017

INSTALLED CAPACITY, BROKEN DOWN BY PRIMARY ENERGY SOURCE
2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015
Mwe (electrical capacity) MWt (thermal capacity) Mwe (electrical capacity) MWt (thermal capacity)
Natural gas 1,175 1,583 1,174 1,583 Measured since 2020 GRI G4 EU1
Multi-fuel (fuel oil/natural gas) 522 3,255 522 3,255
Lignite 106 768 106 768 GRI G4 EU1
Hard coal 755 541 755 538
Biomass 25 59 25 59 GRI G4 EU1
Wind power plants 353 0 242 0
Solar power plants 12 0 6 0 GRI G4 EU1
Hydroelectric power plants (including ESP Żydowo) 359 0 359 0
TOTAL 3,306 6,206 3,188 6,203 GRI G4 EU1
Power plants 1,414 0 1,297 0
CHP plants 1,892 6,031 1,891 6,028 GRI G4 EU1
Heat plants 0 175 0 175
TOTAL 3,306 6,206 3,188 6,203
NET ENERGY OUTPUT BROKEN DOWN BY PRIMARY ENERGY SOURCE
2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015
Electricity [MWh] Heat [GJ] Electricity [MWh] Heat [GJ]
Natural gas 5,161,380 7,103,206 6,727,858 7,690,250 Measured since 2020 GRI G4 EU2
Multi-fuel (fuel oil/natural gas) 1,609,237 26,089,673 1,677,079 25,865,443
Biogas 3,391 0 7,221 0 GRI G4 EU2
Lignite 583,753 6,244,240 512,769 6,050,437
Hard coal 2,392,367 3,122,378 1,140,207 1,607,874 GRI G4 EU2
Biomass 76,128 695,298 104,765 491,222
Wind power plants 661,897 0 269,294 0 GRI G4 EU2
Solar power plants 5,050 0 3,618 0
Hydroelectric power plants (including ESP Żydowo) 935,067 0 507,374 0 GRI G4 EU2
TOTAL 11,428,269 43,254,796 10,950,185 41,705,227
Total gross electricity output of the ORLEN Group in 2021 was 12,271,110.83 MWh.

AVERAGE GENERATION EFFICIENCY OF CHP PLANTS BY ENERGY SOURCE
2021
Efficiency of electricity generation
by thermal plants (%)
 60.52% reported since 2021 GRI G4 EU11
Total generation efficiency of thermal plants (%) 66.40%
Efficiency of electricity generation by thermal plants (%) broken down by primary energy source:
Multi-fuel (fuel oil/natural gas) 77.73%
Lignite 59.34%
Natural gas 52.83%
Hard coal 78.66%
Biomass-fired 70.29%
Efficiency of electricity generation
by CHP plants (%)
 60.52%
Efficiency of electricity generation
by power plants (%)
 86.02%
Amounts of fuel for electricity generation by cogeneration units were established based on the physical method.

TOTAL INVESTMENTS IN RENEWABLE ENERGY
2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015
Investments in renewable energy [PLN thousand] 704,983  reported since 2021 GRI OG2

ENERGY SOLD BY SOURCE
2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015
Electricity from own sources [MWh] 7,645,999  reported since 2021
Electricity purchased from third-party suppliers (from outside the ORLEN Group) [MWh] 23,402,583
Heat from own sources [GJ] 6,766,290
Heat purchased from third-party suppliers (from outside the ORLEN Group) [GJ] 10,267

NET RENEWABLE ENERGY OUTPUT
2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015
Electricity [MWh] 1,614,333 reported since 2021
Heat [GJ] 695,298
Total gross renewable electricity output at the ORLEN Group (excluding Żydowo pumped-storage power plant) in 2021 was 1,667,205.57 MWh.

NUMBER OF INSTALLED EV CHARGERS AND NUMBER OF CHARGING HOURS
2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015
Number of EV chargers 445 reported since 2021
Number of charging hours [h] 42,000
Number of installed chargers as at the end of 2021: 445. Number of chargers in use: 420.

See also

Climate responsibility

More

Biodiversity protection

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