Renewable energy for the city Pécs

Helping Pécs to become the greenest city in Hungary

Pécs is the fifth largest city of Hungary, located on the slopes of the Mecsek mountains in the south-west of the country, close to its border with Croatia.

Veolia manages the renewable district heating system on behalf of the city.

The challenge

The challenge was to turn the city of Pécs into the greenest city in Hungary and create Europe’s biggest “green “cogeneration district heating network.

The solution

In November 2013, the largest 100% biomass cogeneration heat network in Europe started operating in Pécs. Each year, the city’s 170,000 residents keep warm with 400,000 metric tons of wood and 180,000 metric tons of straw from around twenty farms in the region.

Veolia operates two electricity production units in Pécs: a 35 MW power plant fueled by straw and a 50 MW power plant fueled by wood waste. Long-term contracts to supply the two power plants have been established with farmers and forestry and sawmill operators in the region.

Pécs is one of the only cities in Europe making use of 100% local, renewable resources for its heating needs. 

Value delivered

This solution ensures the city’s energy independence and provides heating for 31,000 houses and 450 public buildings, while avoiding the emission of 150,000 metric tons of CO₂ per year.

More than 170 jobs have been created in the plant’s straw supply chain and more than 100 jobs in its timber supply chain.

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