Unique CEETe paves the way to sustainable energy

Modern low-carbon technologies, including the use of solar or wind energy, waste treatment or hydrogen production, are not only developed by local researchers, but also used in operation, under one roof and in an attractive new building. The construction of the building with photovoltaic panels in the façade and the so-called green wall cost around CZK 400 million. Its purpose is to show the way for the energy transformation of the 21st century.

"The task of CEET is to demonstrate a functional chain to use alternative fuels and renewable sources to generate energy. We convert solar energy using photovoltaic panels in the facade and on the roof, and wind energy using unique wind power concepts. We also show how to work with waste management, how to convert waste into useful forms of energy using, for example, plasma, and especially how to stitch these very complex technologies into a functional whole in order to extract, distribute, use or store energy for later. Our aim is not to present one violinist playing well, but to harmonise the whole orchestra," said CEET director Stanislav Mišák. For this, he said, not only domestically unique technologies are needed, including equipment for hydrogen recovery during gasification of waste fuels, but also a tailor-made control system.

CEETe - Centre for Energy and Environmental Technologies - explorer is to be a mobile explorer and come up with pioneering solutions, similar to the fairy-tale robot Wall-e, which was the inspiration for the name. It is a modular system where the individual parts can be combined in a way similar to Lego pieces. That is why "clones" of it should be created in the near future, adapted to the needs of the given location. This is also supported by other features of CEET, including scalability, easy portability and flexibility. In the first phase, however, CEETe will be the "central brain" of the campus and will point the way for emerging community energy.

The opening of CEETe is just the beginning

"The commissioning of CEETe is just the first step. We believe that other buildings will gradually join it. In our campus, which is a small prototype of a city, we have the opportunity to test and try everything out as part of our research. Subsequently, for example, businesses with municipalities can be connected on the same principle, and CEETe can be an example how to manage the community energy," explained Lukáš Prokop, Director of the ENET Centre, one of CEET's components.

CEETe's role is also to deepen cooperation, including scientific cooperation, in a number of areas and to encourage the arrival of top scientists from abroad. "But above all, CEETe is a means to fulfil a much higher purpose, namely to show the public the possibilities of transforming the energy sector and moving away from dependence on fossil fuels. It introduces individual technologies so that people understand them and accept them as their own," added Stanislav Mišák.

According to VŠB-TUO Rector Václav Snášel, by building this infrastructure, the university is committed to the strategy of sustainable development of society. "VŠB-TUO has one of the largest campuses in Europe. The vision of our university is to develop it as a living laboratory so that students have an idea of how to use the results of science in real life. Building CEET is an important step in this strategy, which we call SMARAGD (Smart and Green District). It is the biggest investment in this area and I am glad that it has been implemented at VŠB-TUO," said the Rector.

Investments for the benefit of the regionConstruction began in February last year. About half of the investment was covered by a grant from the Ministry of Industry and Trade under the Operational Programme Enterprise and Innovation for Competitiveness, the Moravian-Silesian Region also contributed financially and part of the costs were covered by CEET.

The Moravian-Silesian Region is exceptional in many ways, but one of them is crucial for CEET. Thanks to coal mining and heavy industry, a third of the region is full of energy-using waste. "It is an exaggeration to say that if we put a pipe in the ground, we have some burnable gas, or if we extract sludge from ponds, we can immediately put it in a boiler and burn it. And CEET's role is to help us find the most efficient and greenest way to use that waste for energy. Making use of it will have a double effect - we won't have to import gas or coal from abroad, and we'll produce energy locally, while cleaning up the countryside and leaving it to our children in a much better state than we took it over. That is why we have supported the construction of CEET with almost CZK 100 million and we expect that this investment will pay us back many times over," said Jakub Unucka, 1st Deputy Governor.

"The project is significant not only in terms of the amount of the subsidy, but also in terms of its focus. It is located in a structurally affected region where energy transformation will play a key role. It also addresses the issue of hydrogen, which is the fuel of the future. I am pleased that research in this area will be carried out at the Technical University of Ostrava," said MIT's Chief Director Martin Piecha.

The project is a shining example of cooperation between the academic and application spheres. However, it will also offer services to the public sector. "The coal-free era is approaching, other, more modern and greener technologies will come into play more intensively. It will be necessary to create a sustainable energy system that combines various sources. And it is the expert teams at CEETe that will play a key role in this process in our region. This is the main reason why the Moravian-Silesian Region welcomed and financially supported the establishment of the Centre. The results will be extremely important not only for the region, but also for municipalities, companies and entrepreneurs. I believe that CEETe will contribute significantly to the development of the entire region," concluded the Governor of the Moravian-Silesian Region Jan Krkoška.

The project Centre for Energy and Environmental Technologies - Explorer was co-financed by the European Union.

The project Centre for Energy and Environmental Technologies - Explorer was co-financed by the budget of the Moravian-Silesian Region.