In 2025, the Sustainability Theme Week focuses on especially relevant and progressive topics: soil and biodiversity protection, the use of renewable energy sources, the environmental impacts of artificial intelligence, the modernization of waste management, as well as conscious consumer behavior and consumer protection. The aim of the theme week is for these topics, which are of paramount importance both globally and domestically, not only to be present at the educational level but also to initiate broader social dialogue and encourage participants to take meaningful action.
Not only teachers and civil organizations but also companies can connect to this initiative in a credible and meaningful way—especially those companies that are committed to sustainable operations in the long term and have already proven that their activities make a real contribution to solving environmental and social challenges.
Veolia Energia Magyarország Zrt., as a key player in the energy and environmental protection sector, has decades of experience in this field. Today, the company not only adapts to the expectations related to the green transition but also actively shapes them. Whether it's biomass-based heat production, intelligent energy regulation, or the phasing out of fossil fuels, Veolia is working on innovative, practical solutions that provide direct answers to the key questions posed by Theme Week.
Biomass: Local Source, Global Impact
Biomass, as a renewable energy source, plays a decisive role in Hungary’s energy production portfolio. Veolia is committed to actively contributing to the achievement of the country's climate protection goals by reducing the proportion of fossil fuels and expanding the use of biomass. One of the flagships of this is the Pécs power plant, which now provides its heat production entirely from renewable sources—wood chips and baled, herbaceous agricultural by-products such as straw. The plant uses about 200,000 tons of locally generated agricultural by-products annually, which not only reduces the environmental impact of the supply chain but also enables economically sustainable operations. Most of the carbon dioxide generated during operation is reabsorbed by the plants, so the system is nearly carbon neutral.
For several years, our company has successfully operated an initiative aimed at residential waste utilization: after Christmas, collected and discarded Christmas trees are recycled as biomass in the Pécs power plant. This simple but effective initiative well illustrates how household waste can become a valuable resource. The energy from the collected Christmas trees can provide heating for about 85 homes for a month!
Energy Regulation: When Flexibility Is the Key to Sustainability
Sustainability is not only about the use of renewable energy sources but also includes the adaptability of energy supply systems to continuously changing consumer demands. Energy regulation—that is, the intelligent coordination of energy consumption and production—is now vital, especially in a world where electricity demand is becoming increasingly dynamic.
Veolia also applies innovative, forward-thinking solutions in this area: we use digital developments, real-time data analysis, and modern power plant infrastructure to optimize the balance between energy production and consumption. Veolia's virtual power plant system makes it a significant player in the regulatory market. The virtual power plant brings together the total installed capacity of 46 gas engines (120.4 MW), whose flexible production management ensures effective market presence. A defining element of this strategy is the acquisition of the Győr gas turbine power plant, which was refurbished in 2021. Thanks to its rapid response time, the 430 MW facility is excellent for balancing system load and effectively complements fluctuating renewable energy sources such as solar and wind power plants.
Transforming Power Plants: Beyond Coal Firing
Converting two formerly coal-fired boilers at the Oroszlány power plant to biomass-based firing is not only a significant step forward environmentally but also a symbolic milestone on the road to the decarbonization of energy systems. The aim of the project is not only to reduce air pollution but to support a long-term energy transition in which existing infrastructures can also become part of a sustainable future. With the transition, the Oroszlány region is a step closer to carbon neutrality, while the security of energy supply has not been compromised.
GreenUp: The Program for Ecological Transition
The GreenUp strategy launched in 2024 projects the global vision of the Veolia international group. Our mission is not simply to reduce the company's carbon footprint but also to actively support our customers and partners in achieving their emission reduction goals. By 2027, we aim to reduce our partners’ CO₂ emissions by 18 million tons and ensure the safe and regulated management of 10 million tons of hazardous waste worldwide every year.
The Sustainability Theme Week also focuses on shaping attitudes. For Veolia, it is particularly important not only to proclaim this goal but also to realize it in practice. The circular economy blog supported by Veolia (www.korkorosgazdasag.hu) aims to present good initiatives and innovations that strengthen the environmental and energy awareness of our followers. In addition, we seek to inspire responsible individuals and communities, as well as businesses, with ideas that can help make their operations more sustainable, in the spirit of the circular economy model.
The “Talent Deserves a Chance” Program, by connecting the power of art and the values of sustainability, directly helps young people to build a more sustainable future as part of their personal development. The program targets disadvantaged youth living in state care and provides them with opportunities to develop their artistic and creative expression.
Shaping the Future Begins Today
Sustainability Theme Week is an excellent opportunity for younger generations to learn what role they can play in protecting the planet. At the same time, it is at least as important that they encounter credible, working examples of how to live and work in an environmentally friendly way. Veolia’s practical solutions and social responsibility programs demonstrate that sustainability is no longer just a theoretical goal but an integral part of our present—a comprehensive approach that now has a real impact on our communities, economy, and quality of life.