JUDr. Naďa Hartmann, MA, LL.M, is Chairwoman of the Board and CEO of the ESCO Slovensko group. She
is responsible for group management, business operations, external relations and marketing. ESCO Slovensko
is a joint venture between ČEZ ESCO and SPP.
ESCO Slovensko is a leader in the area of innovative energy saving solutions in Slovakia. Where do you get your experience and ideas?
We entered the energy market with a strong background created by our companies and their professional history. Our shareholders themselves, i.e. ČEZ ESCO and SPP, have helped us a lot in new areas. With their support and know-how, we have been able to build a base of experts and professional teams that, with the implementation of numerous projects, our own development, increasingly effective cooperation, as well as continuous training, have become a truly unrivalled entity in terms of breadth of offer and quality of services on our market.
You are a joint venture of ČEZ ESCO and Slovenský plynárenský priemysel (or Slovak Gas Industry). What does this cooperation mean for you?
Strong partners always provide a sense of stability, which is a great advantage in today‘s unexpected changes in the areas of economy, legislation and technical development. Moreover, active cooperation offers a better overview and also provides an idea of the upcoming challenges and, therefore, time to prepare countermeasures. At the same time, it is a strong motivation to develop one‘s own activities.
The ESCO Slovensko Group includes several subsidiaries. What comprehensive product and services do you offer?
Our service offer covers a comprehensive solution, from consultation and specification of the client’s real needs to the design and implementation of measures, as well as subsequent management and servicing. The company also covers the area of project financing. A truly comprehensive service offering under one roof.
One of your priorities is clean energy for Slovak healthcare. Which project is the most important in this area?
The largest implemented project was the reconstruction of the faculty hospital and polyclinic in Nové Zámky. The costs were approximately EUR 5.8 million with a 7.5-year return of investment. The investments for the reconstruction were solved in the form of EPC, i.e. energy savings with a guarantee. In this form, the contractor, namely e-Dome, uarantees the savings achieved, which are subsequently used to repay the funds spent. With this modernisation, the hospital will save more than 8,150 MWh of natural gas, almost 1,200 MWh of electricity and more than 40,500 m3 of water annually.
The Slovak demand for photovoltaics has been growing disproportionately in recent months. Why does this particular source of green energy dominate?
The demand for green energy solutions, not only for households, is on the rise. Of course, the main reason is the rise in energy prices and the desire to minimise the impact of this growth. Photovoltaics are currently preferred thanks to government subsidies offered to households for this very solution.
And is this solution, i.e. photovoltaics, suitable for all types of households or buildings?
First of all, it is important to stress that for the average household it is a supplementary source of energy, as conventional systems can only partially cover household consumption. However, as a supplementary source, they represent an interesting energy alternative that is not noisy, is affordable and is not difficult to maintain. However, this is particularly true for houses that already envisage the installation of photovoltaic panels in the design and construction of the building. It is also advisable to subordinate the choice of photovoltaic solution to its future use and to familiarise oneself with the possibilities of a battery system. Also, the possibility of using a virtual battery service, which is provided by all major energy providers, is certainly interesting.
Thank you for the interview.
