ENGIE Zielona Energia is providing renewable energy to the Centrum Południe complex in Wroclaw. The building is 100% powered with energy produced by a wind farm in Poland owned by ENGIE Zielona Energia. Thanks to this solution, the building offering its tenants the highest quality and convenient office space is significantly reducing its impact on natural environment.
Centrum Południe is a multi-stage project that will ultimately offer 85,000 sqm. of innovative office and retail space. In August 2020, the first two buildings of the complex were made available to tenants, totaling approx. 28,000 sqm. This complex is the first in Lower Silesia to be built in accordance with the guidelines of the demanding WELL Core&Shell certificate. It is the largest and most sustainable Skanska project in Wroclaw. The building uses energy produced by windmills belonging to ENGIE Zielona Energia, part of the ENGIE Group.
ENGIE focuses on zero-emission energy production sources. It is a producer of renewable energy. It has 4 wind farms in Poland with a capacity of 138 MW, as well as 11 photovoltaic farms with a capacity of 11MWp. The company implements modern solutions both in the production of renewable energy and in the field of energy efficiency and the service of commercial and warehouse spaces. During the Covid-19 pandemic, the company implemented modern solutions in Poland to eliminate viruses and bacteria in medical facilities and office buildings.
– For us, working with Skanska is another step towards achieving the goals of our group. We follow the 3 Ds concept: decarbonization, digitization and decentralization. We are one of the world leaders when it comes to change and we focus on renewable energy. This contract is yet another confirmation that these days we are all focused on meeting the expectations of customers who are concerned about the environment – says Mateusz Madejski, Sales and Marketing Director at ENGIE Zielona Energia.
ENGIE Zielona Energia offers companies many solutions that can help them reduce their energy expenditure. – These are products that combine purchasing energy with the customer’s own energy production, e.g. on photovoltaic farms. We offer the sale of products and services that can be combined. And we do it as a proven partner, all services are under one tax identification number – adds Mateusz Madejski.
Skanska, as a company providing futureproof, comfortable and, above all, sustainable office space, also places great emphasis on solutions that bring benefits not only to tenants. – For us, the "green revolution" is not just a slogan, but real and systematically implemented solutions, thanks to which our investments bring added value to society and the environment – says Adam Targowski, Environmental Director in Skanska office unit. – We have set ourselves an ambitious goal to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 50% by 2030 and to achieve carbon neutrality by 2045. Initiatives that increase the use of renewable energy are bringing us closer to delivering on these promises. Cooperation with ENGIE is a step towards fulfilling our challenge, which is constructing office buildings with a neutral carbon footprint – adds Adam Targowski.
The use of renewable energy sources is not the only initiative of Skanska to help protect the environment. The Swedish developer is building anti-smog pavements made of green concrete, which, thanks to their catalytic properties, reduce the concentration of compounds in the city air that are hazardous to humans. Such pavements have already been built in Warsaw, Krakow, Poznan, Wroclaw and Gdansk.
The project using photovoltaic panels made of perovskites is also advancing. They are highly efficient in energy production, even if the sun's rays do not hit them at an optimal angle. This means that their use is not limited to the roof only – they work effectively on any surface, including glass facades of office buildings. The final version of such a single panel will be able to meet the energy demand for lighting the workplace of one employee for eight hours or power one computer for the entire day of use.
Also, the LEED and WELL certificates held or applied for by Skanska office buildings assume pro-environmental solutions. Buildings that receive these awards must have technologies that reduce energy or water consumption. Great emphasis is also placed on the facades of buildings – they must be designed in such a way as to maximize their energy efficiency and guarantee thermal comfort. Skanska office buildings also have lighting systems that adjust the intensity of lighting inside the building to the amount of natural light outside. The recently announced BMSCare project, which will enable better use of building data, is also expected to increase energy efficiency and reduce the carbon footprint. – Sustainable development is taken into account both when it comes to our business strategy and at every level of our company's operations – sums up Adam Targowski.