Our projects

Identification of the main causes of air pollution in the North Bohemian Brown Coal Basin

Between 2021 and 2023, we implemented a project entitled "Identification of the main causes of air pollution in the North Bohemian lignite basin" supported by the State Environmental Fund of the Czech Republic as part of the Program supported by the Financial Mechanism of Norway 2014-2021.

The goal of the project was to identify the origin of air pollution with PM2.5 and PM10 particles in the North Bohemian Coal Basin and to limit the influence of air pollution sources through the adoption of appropriate measures. The project was focused on the territory of three districts, especially in the vicinity of the Bílina quarry.

As part of the project, our company carried out short-term measurements of particle concentrations of PM2.5, PM10 and the total fraction of particles, and in cooperation with the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute, a long-term measurement campaign connected with chemical analysis of particles. Modern interpretation model tools for describing the distribution of air pollution (OPEN AIR, Positive Matrix Factorization) were deployed on the determined concentration values ??and information on wind direction and speed.

 

In 2021, the selection of a supplier of measuring technology and necessary services (measurement) took place in the first half of the year. In the second half of the year, measurement campaigns began, which continued in 2022, when a year-long sampling campaign of suspended PM10 particles was also underway in four selected locations. In 2023, short-term campaigns and evaluation of the measurement results were continued. The results obtained were followed by the preparation of the Severočeské doly a.s. action plan with a proposal for specific technical, investment and operational measures to reduce the impact of the Bílina quarry and the related coal treatment plant on the ambient air quality.


The project has two outputs. The first is a report containing an analysis of the detected data on the air pollution level, and the second is an action plan of Severočeské doly a.s. for Bílina quarry.


The complete results and both outputs were handed over to the subsidy provider and the Ministry of the Environment and were presented to state administration bodies, local governments and the professional public at the end of the project and during its course.

The project information leaflet is available for download here.

 

More information on Norwegian funds can be found at:

Norway grants

IMAGE: Norway grants