Hungary: Veolia acquires the Szakoly Biomass Plant Extension of Biomass Network

Veolia acquires the Szakoly power plant, the fifth largest installation in Hungary producing electricity purely from biomass.

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Szakoly/Hungary — The Group is further developing its renewable energy activities in the country, where it already operates several power plants, including those in Pécs and Dorogde. Since 2009 the Szakoly power plant, with a capacity of 19.8 MW, has been producing 130 GWh of electricity per year from the combustion of wood chips and sawmill by-products, equivalent to the consumption of 50,000 households.

“I am delighted by the takeover of the Szakoly biomass power plant, which strengthens our position and anchors our presence in eastern Hungary, where we have already been operating the Debrecen and Nyíregyháza power plants since 2015,” said György Palkó, Chief Executive Officer of Veolia Hungary. “Our target is the long-term efficient and successful management of the power plant, which employs 55 people,” said Attila Vollár, head of DBM, the company acquired by Veolia which operates the Szakoly power plant. “We are exploring further developments, including cogeneration. The heat produced could be used for heating greenhouses in partnership with fruit and vegetable producers. In Hungary biomass represents 52 % of renewable energy sources. Operating this power plant will help to increase this proportion."

In Hungary, Veolia operates power plants and heating networks, notably for the cities of Pécs, Dorog, Esztergom and Tata. In Pécs, Veolia operates the largest 100 % biomass cogeneration heating network in Europe, which is supplied by straw and wood. In Hungary Veolia produces more than 600 GWh of electricity a year, which is the equivalent of the annual consumption of 230,000 households, and supplies 121,000 homes with heat. Veolia also provides energy services to more than 30 industrial customers as well as to the building sector.

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