BAT (Best Available Techniques) – A document drawing conclusions on best available techniques for the installations concerned and indicating the emission levels associated with the best available techniques.
Blockchain – A decentralized platform with a dispersed network infrastructure used to account for transactions, payments or accounting entries. Advantages of this technology include, among others, safety, which is ensured by the application of cryptographic algorithms, resilience to failures and transparency of transactions, while maintaining anonymity of users. The list of possible applications includes, among others, cryptocurrencies, the Internet of Things, exchange transactions without intermediaries and institutions, land and mortgage registers without notaries and mortgage courts, electricity trading between prosumers and buyers without intermediaries, accounting ledgers.
CDS (Clean dark spread) – Difference between revenue from sales of electricity produced and the variable costs related to production of that electricity (unit CO₂ cost and unit cost of coal including transportation).
Circular economy – An economic system, which aims to minimize the consumption of raw materials, production of waste, emissions and loss of energy, and in which waste from some processes is used as inputs in others.
CO2 – Carbon dioxide.
Combined heat and power generation – A technological process of simultaneous generation of electricity and useful thermal energy in a CHP plant.
Compliance – Assurance of compliance of the organization’s activities with the applicable law and internal regulations.
CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) – Responsibility of an organization for the impact exerted by its decisions and actions on society and the environment; it is ensured by transparent and ethical conduct, which:
EBITDA – Earnings before deduction of interest on liabilities, taxes, depreciation of property, plant and equipment and amortization of intangible assets.
Employee Council – Employee representation body established by the Act of 7 April 2006 on Informing Employees and Consultations with Them (Journal of Laws 2006 No. 79 Item 550). Employee Council should be established in employers who conduct business activity and have at least 50 employees. This obligation does not apply among others to employers subject to the provisions of the Act who had signed, by 24 May 2006, an agreement with employee representatives ensuring the degree of information and consultation at least equal to the conditions required by the act.
EUA – (EU Emission Allowance) – Emission allowance under the European Emissions Trading System.
FDIR – Faul Detection, Isolation, Restoration, a system enabling automatic detection of faults, isolation of the damage site and restoration of power supply.
FGD – Flue gas desulfurization and heavy metal reduction installation.
Forward market – Electricity market where forward products are quoted.
GPZ – Main Supply Point.
GWh – Gigawatt hour.
HCI – Hydrogen chloride.
HF – Hydrogen fluoride.
Hg – Mercury.
Hortitherapy – Therapeutic method based on the use of gardens in the treatment of patients.
HR – Human resources.
HV – A high-voltage grid with phase-to-phase voltage of 110 kV, used for long-distance transmission of electricity.
IED – Directive 2010/75/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 November 2010 concerning industrial emissions. It tightens the standards for emissions of sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and dust from combustion plants.
Internal Collective Bargaining Agreement – An agreement between an employer and the company trade union organization defining the mutual rights and obligations of the parties to the employment relationship, including in particular the terms of work conditions and wages.
Internet of Things – A concept according to which various items, such as household appliances, lighting and heating products, may directly or indirectly collect, process or exchange data via a power installation or a computer network. The purpose of this concept is to create smart cities, transport, products, buildings, power supply systems, health systems or daily life systems.
LV – A low-voltage network supplying electricity to individual users.
Mg – Megagram, or a ton.
Mobbing – Bullying, persistent harassment and intimidation, psychological violence against a subordinate or co-worker in the workplace.
MV – A medium-voltage grid with phase-to-phase voltage ranging from 1 kV to 60 kV, used for medium-distance transmission and distribution of electricity.
MWh – Megawatthour (1 GWh = 1,000 MWh).
NH3 – Ammonia.
NOx – Nitrogen oxides.
PKZP – Employee Loan and Benefit Fund.
Prosumer – Person who generates electricity from renewable energy sources for own needs using a micro-installation, capable of storing energy and transferring surplus energy to the power grid.
RES – Renewable Energy Sources.
SAIDI – System Average Interruption Duration Index – indicator of the average system duration of a long and very long break in the supply of electricity (expressed in minutes per Customer).
SAIFI – System Average Interruption Frequency Index – indicator of the average system frequency of long interruptions in energy supply (expressed in the number of breaks per Customer).
Scope 1 – Direct CO2 emissions resulting from fuel combustion in stationary or mobile sources owned by an organization or under its control, emissions resulting from manufacturing or processing or fugitive emissions of coolants.
Scope 2 – Electricity indirect CO2 emissions resulting from the generation of consumed electricity, heat, processing steam and cooling, purchased or supplied from outside.
Scope 3 – Other indirect CO2 emissions created in the company’s entire value chain, e.g. in the production of raw materials, semi-finished products, management of waste, transportation of raw materials and products, business trips of Employees or the use of products by final users.
SCR (Selective Catalytic Reduction) – An installation for catalytic denitrification of exhaust gases. It operates based on the principle of reduction of nitrogen oxides to atmospheric nitrogen on the surface of a catalyst, using substances containing ammonia.
Skills-based volunteering – A form of voluntary and unpaid work for the public, in which volunteers share their knowledge, experiences and skills associated with their professional specialization.
Smart Grid – Smart electrical grids, which feature communication between all the participants on the energy market, in order to supply energy services at lower costs, enhance efficiency and integrate dispersed energy sources, including renewable energy sources.
SO2 – Sulfur dioxide.
Social labor inspection – Social service provided by Employees to ensure that the company ensures safe and healthy working conditions and to protect employee rights specified in labor law. Social labor inspectors cooperate with the National Labor Inspectorate and other authorities overseeing and inspecting working conditions. The principal scope of their activity is defined in the Social Labor Inspection Act of 24 June 1983 (Journal of Laws 2015, Item 567).
Stakeholder – A person or group of persons interested in decisions or activities of an organization. A stakeholder is anyone who influences an organization and anyone influenced by it.
Supply chain – A sequence of actions or parties supplying products or services to an organization.
Sustainable development – Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs and considers the expectations of the surrounding communities and societal, environmental and economic challenges. It enables permanent increase of the value of an organization and rational management of resources.
Transmission easement – Limited right in property allowing for the use of devices for transmitting energy, substances etc.
TWh – Terawatt hour.
Upcycling – Form of processing of raw materials resulting in obtaining higher-value products..
Whistleblower – A person who exposes activities that are deemed likely to be illegal or unethical.