Institute of Energy and Fuel Processing Technology (ITPE), formerly Institute for Chemical Processing of Coal – Leader of the consortium - is known as high-scientific level research institution since 1955. The main recipients of the Institute's know-how are energy and coke-making industries, waste management, as well as small and medium-sized enterprises as well as government and self-government administration bodies. ITPE is the scientific back-up of Polish Industry with research and development related to fossil and renewable fuels, biomass, waste processing, by-product utilization, environmental protection in industrial and post-industrial activity, improving clean, environmentally safe fuel utilization, and products with special quality features. The Institute participates in the realization of research projects of priority importance to economy, which are dedicated to the efficient use and environmentally friendly of fossil, renewable and alternative fuels. The competences of the Institute are focused on thermal processing of various fuels by means of combustion, gasification and pyrolysis. The key research areas of institute are also CO2 capture from flue and process gases, process gases cleaning and combustion. The institute is experienced in energy and mass balance of technological processes, modelling, simulation and optimization of processes and technologies, technical and economic analysis of investment and modernization projects. Within its structure, ITPE operates unique research infrastructure of Clean Coal Technology Centre, which enables the performance of technological tests in technical and pilot scale to realize scientific goals. Institute employs specialists with high competences and knowledge. ITPE has experience in many national and international projects, realized as the Leader and the member of consortium. The Institute cooperates in the implementation of R&D projects with over 50 domestic and foreign research and development units.

Project Leader, person responsible for supervising design HESS project: Ph.D. AGATA CZARDYBON, aczardybon@itpe.pl; tel.: + 48 32 621 64 28; Zamkowa Street 1, 41-803 Zabrze, Poland

Instytut Techniki Górniczej (KOMAG) is a state-owned research and development organization, subordinated to and supervised by the Ministry of State Assets. There are 155 employees, 105 of which are scientific research and technical specialists. The KOMAG’s scope of activity includes scientific, research and development projects – at national and European level – in the domain of minerals mining and processing; environment protection; work safety; air and ground surface protection. The projects’ results are also implemented in other domains. KOMAG’s great advantage are specialists whose competences are comprehensive and transferable to other branches of industry, which allows continuous tailoring of the Institute’s offer to market needs as well as participation in diverse projects. In the over 70-year history of KOMAG, about 4,500 inventions were reported for protection, also patent protection. All departments and infrastructure necessary for the Institute’s operation are in place (no outsourcing). It has own financial, administrative and HR departments; quality and knowledge management department (including technical library, and library of necessary standards); departments for administrative and financial issues related with research work and IT department. All departments are equipped with hardware and software, as necessary. At the KOMAG Institute of Mining Technology special attention is paid to the state-of the- art management methods, which are supported by the implemented and certified Quality Management System. The following standards are applied PN-EN ISO 9001:2015-10, PN-EN ISO/IEC 17025:2018-02 and PN-EN ISO/IEC 17065:2013-03. KOMAG has many years of experience in national and European projects.

Person responsible for supervising design HESS project work at KOMAG: Ph.D. DANIEL KOWOL, dkowol@komag.eu, tel. +48 32 237 41 00, 32 231 27 15, fax: 32 231 08 43; Pszczynska Street 37, 44-101 Gliwice, Poland

Silesian University of Technology (SUT) founded in 1945, is one of the largest and top-ranked technical universities in Poland. Located in Upper Silesia, the most industrialized part of Poland, it is an important hub of industrial research. With over 20 000 students, it is also the main regional source of the skilled personnel. With constantly growing infrastructure and staff aiming at being an active creator of European Research Area SUT is setting its goals at intensifying international cooperation by participating in Horizon 2020 and other research programs.

In January 2017 the SUT has been certified by the European Commission with Human Resources Excellence in Research logo. In 2019 SUT has been awarded a highly prestigious title within ‘Excellence Initiative – Research University’ programme and finds itself among just 10 research universities in Poland.

Silesian University of Technology has rich experience with EU programmes, in this project two faculties will be involved: The Faculty of Mining, Safety Engineering and Industrial Automation and the Faculty of Energy and Environmental Engineering. The first Faculty has the scope of research which involves modern mining which covers appropriate geological identification of mineral deposits, economically effective extraction of raw materials, use of energy-saving and fail-safe machines meeting requirements of safety and environmental protection. The Faculty aims to educate engineers with interest not only in mining but also in the broad aspects related to environmental engineering, energy and mine rehabilitation. Their aim is not only to educate engineers but also maintain close contact with local authorities, businesses and educational institutions. The Faculty of Energy and Environmental Engineering employs over 50 professors and habilitated doctors and more than 120 PhDs. Research conducted at the faculty includes, among others: operation and diagnostics of power machinery and equipment, complex heat transfer processes, automation of energy processes, thermodynamics and heat transfer and renewable energy. An interdisciplinary team of researchers from the group GEST (Group on Energy Storage Technologies) will be involved in the project. Selection of experienced staff and access to laboratory infrastructure guarantees the proper realization of a project.

Person responsible for supervising design HESS project work at SUT: Prof. MARCIN LUTYŃSKI,  marcin.lutynski@polsl.pl, +48 32 237 24 87  /  +48 882 638 150; Akademicka Street 2,  44-100 Gliwice, Poland

Premogovnik Velenje, d.o.o. (PV), (the Velenje Coal Mine) is a technologically advanced company with lignite mining as its primary activity.

With an over 147-year tradition in lignite mining, it is firmly rooted in the Slovenian energy economics. PV mines a bowl-shaped coal seam which covers a surface area of approximately 16 km². The seam is up to 160 m thick in its central part and varies in depth from 200 to 500 metres. The mine produces lignite employing the so called “Velenje Mining Method” and produces cca 2.8 million tonnes of coal per year which is entirely used in nearby power plant Šoštanj (TEŠ). The entire process is based on the consideration of natural characteristics, provision of adequate safety and the prediction of impacts on the environment. During many years of operation, the activities of PV have considerably transformed the Šaleška dolina valley, therefore the company wishes to restore, at least to some extent, its former appearance by introducing some new contents.

Based on the tradition, experience and knowledge, PV has more departments dealing with research activities. More than 50 experts are employed in the Technical Services department, among them more than two thirds are mining, mechanical, electrical, and geological engineers. Beside PV team big support from umbrella company HSE will be given. This includes cooperation with power plant TEŠ, municipals Šoštanj and Velenje and other relevant smaller stakeholders. PV is also a research organization and is working very closely with various universities and research institutions. It has participated in a number of EU funded research projects such as VELGASPREVENT, LOWCARB, ROCD, INDIRES, INESI, METHENERGY PLUS, PICTO, MAPROC, COAL2GAS and GHG2E.

Currently it is foreseen that date of closure of coal mine will be earliest in 2033 and latest in 2038 where in any case a lot of mining infrastructure will be available for future projects. For example, there are six shafts cca 140 to 400 m deep where one was just built. At today’s cca 50 km of roadways, many of them are of stable nature, some have water source presence, and therefore have prospects for the future usage. This includes future circular economy projects and related factories, production of different fuels & energy and innovative use of power plant and coal mine left-over infrastructure. However different strategies and scenarios will need to be properly assessed and evaluated, beside other, also strategies for energy storage and production.

Person responsible for supervising design HESS project work at PV: Ph.D. SERGEJ JAMNIKAR, sergej.jamnikar@rlv.si, tel. +386 (0)3 899 63 93; Premogovnik Velenje, d. o. o., Partizanska cesta 78, 3320 Velenje, Slovenia

VSB - Technical University of Ostrava (VSB) founded in 1849, is a Czech public university with a long tradition in high quality engineering education and research. These traditional core values have been continually updated to reflect current state of the art technologies and the ever-evolving needs of industry. VSB-TUO has strong links to industry and thrives on applied research, in cooperation with companies and institutions worldwide, in finding innovative solutions to modern day issues. VSB - Technical University of Ostrava in addition to faculties consists of University institutions, University departments and other workplaces. Higher education institutes and research centre CEET (Centre for Energy and Environmental Technologies), which consists of: ENET Centre, Nanotechnology Centre, Institute of Environmental Technologies and Research Energy Centre. ENET Centre has unique laboratory facilities and equipment. It is staffed with experienced researchers working on the development of a secure and reliable energy platform to ensure energy self-sufficiency and raw material self-reliance of a region or country. This is motivated by efforts to make an effective use of wastes, and maximum exploitation of local renewable resources. The concept is supported by energy accumulation means to control energy flows and uses sophisticated methods of artificial intelligence. The research and development is in accordance with the national and EU energy concepts, and ranks among technologies of Industry 4.0. ENET Centre also focuses on the priorities stipulated in Horizont 2020 and is preparing projects to meet the calls dealing with new technologies in renewable resources and energy accumulation, Smart Grids and Smart Cities.

Person responsible for supervising design HESS project work at VSB: PROF. HONUS STANISLAV, stanislav.honus@vsb.cz tel. +420 596 993 270; VŠB – Technická Univerzita Ostrava 17. Listopadu 2172/15, 708 00 Ostrava-Poruba, Czech Republic