Jastrzębska Spółka Węglowa S.A. Invests in Cogeneration System Powered by Caterpillar to Support Sustainability Initiatives at Knurów-Szczygłowice Mine

For Worldwide Release: August, 2020 

DEERFIELD, IL – Caterpillar Inc. today announced that Jastrzębska Spółka Węglowa S.A., the European Union’s largest producer of high-quality hard coking coal for use in the of iron and steel making industries, has selected Cat dealer Eneria Poland to supply an integrated cogeneration system at its Knurów-Szczygłowice mine in southern Poland.

Commissioned in June, the system uses coal mine methane (CMM) to produce up to 12 MW of power and 12 MW of thermal energy.  The electricity is used to supply power for conveyors, compressors, coal processing, mine ventilation systems, and other operations.  The thermal energy captured is processed through heat exchangers to maintain the proper temperature in the mining workspace.

Designed, installed and commissioned by Eneria Poland, the system is anchored by three Cat^® CG260-16 generator sets capable of operating on gas from the mine with methane content ranging from 40% to 70%.  Eneria Poland will also provide ongoing support for the system through a three-year customer value agreement (CVA).

“Safeguarding the health of our employees and minimizing the environmental impact of our operations on neighboring communities are key pillars of our corporate social responsibility strategy,” said Andrzej Szymała, chief investment engineer at the Knurów-Szczygłowice mine. “The cogeneration system designed by Eneria Poland for the Knurów-Szczygłowice mine will reduce methane emissions and improve the safety and comfort of our employees’ working environment while providing electricity and heat through innovations that improve our bottom line.”

The cogeneration system at the Knurów-Szczygłowice mine is the latest in a series of initiatives by Jastrzębska Spółka Węglowa to improve its environmental footprint.  Jastrzębska Spółka Węglowa is currently building a facility to convert by-products of the coking process into critical industrial materials, including lightweight, durable carbon fibers, carbon adsorbents for purifying liquids and gases, and carbon nanostructures used in lithium-ion batteries and numerous other applications.

Jastrzębska Spółka Węglowa employs other equipment supplied by Caterpillar in its operations, including Cat plow systems for longwall mining at its Borynia-Zofiówka and Pniówek mines.

“Jastrzębska Spółka Węglowa has made a demonstrated commitment to sustainability that has delivered tremendously positive results for the communities where it operates as well as its employees,” said Sven Buehler, territory manager for gas product sales at Caterpillar. “The system will support the expansion of Jastrzębska Spółka Węglowa’s environmental initiatives and further improve the quality of life for its many stakeholders.”

Cogeneration Capabilities from Caterpillar

Facilities can reduce operating costs by implementing a Cat cogeneration combined heat and power (CHP) system or a cogeneration system incorporating cooling. This enables the units to simultaneously provide power for electrical loads as well as heat and cooling energy for a facility’s requirements.  Any gas-fueled Cat engine can be configured specifically to support facility processes or heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) requirements.

Caterpillar and the Cat dealer network offer power systems for mines ranging from the largest surface and underground operations down to the smallest quarries. The solutions are engineered to keep operations running reliably and efficiently while protecting the safety of crew members.

Caterpillar delivers innovative power systems engineered for durability, reliability and value. The company offers worldwide product support, with parts and service available globally through the Cat authorized service and dealer network. In addition, dealer technicians are trained to service every aspect of Cat equipment.

For more information, visit www.cat.com/eu-chp or e-mail Electric_Power@cat.com. Additional details on cogeneration are available from the Eneria website at eneria.pl/en/offer/cogeneration.