Today we visited a coal mine and a coal-fired power station. The ČEZ Group hosted us today, providing us with a generous meal and a presentation on their systems. I was looking forward to seeing the Ledvice Power Plant, as my uncle used to work in one of the control stations for a different power plant. I previously knew nothing about this form of energy, as it is out of my field of study. We walked through one of their main operative centers, going all the way to the 28th floor and the incredible lookout point at the top of the building. While I’m a little scared of heights, this experience was well worth it. It was pretty mind-blowing to see so much industrial technology working in conjunction. However, coal as a means of energy is slowly fading out, with cleaner sources such as nuclear energy coming forward.
Then, we checked out the Důl Bílina Lignite Mine. This coal mine is one of the largest in the Czech Republic. Visually, it was very interesting, reminding me almost of a dystopian Grand Canyon. It was very wide and deep, and as a civil engineering student who is also interested in sustainability, it was little bit devastating to see to be honest. However, our tour guide explained to use that operations are slowing down and there are plans for the mine to close in the next few years. Because coal takes millions of years to form, it is not classified as a renewable energy source. It was cool to get up close to the coal and even searching for “fool’s gold” within it.
It was a really cool day and I am glad that we got to see this process of energy creation. I was amazing at the sheer amount of space that both facilities took up. As I further reflect on these experiences, I want to look more into the rail system that passes through the power plant, providing it with critical resources. I have an interest in transportation, so that aspect caught my eye!
Swanson School of Engineering 