• As the electricity grid operator in the Dunántúl, Budapest and Pest county, around some landfills the company has buried power lines and is also installing new nests
• New nesting boxes for kestrels and hawks have been fixed to high-voltage poles
• Last year the company helped with the collaring of 548 stork chicks

E.ON Hungária Group has made preparations for the return of the storks to Hungary.

The company plans to render more than 250 poles bird-friendly this year, with some of the work to be completed before the storks arrive. The poles will be fitted with bird-friendly covers, long insulators and bird perches, all implemented towards the safety of the birds.

The energy provider will help stork breeding through installation of new nesting boxes on utility poles, with more than 100 to be installed this year. Nests damaged in storms will be rebuilt, while those that weigh over 100kg and are in danger of falling over will be pared down in weight by conservationists. This year, more than 3,200 nesting sites await stork pairs on E.ON’s power grids in the Dunántúl and Pest county.

Cabling and new nests at landfills

Landfills around large cities are frequented by storks in search of food. To ensure their safety, in 2023 E.ON embedded its cables underground at the Kaposvár and Bagola landfills, and did the same last year at a landfill known to have the largest population of storks, Pusztazámor. This year the company will carry out renovations and install new nests in the vicinity of the Paks-, Szombathely- and Körmend landfills, among others.

Birds of prey on power infrastructure

The Saker Falcon, named the bird of the year in 2024, raised a record number of chicks in Hungary last year, with 530 falcon chicks having left the nest across the country. Falcons and kestrels do not build their own nests, occupying other birds’ nests instead, so E.ON is helping their annual breeding season this year with more artificial nesting boxes. There are already 120 safe artificial nests available to them on high-voltage pylons.

E.ON’s intervention in the vicinity of abandoned nests takes place during the autumn-winter months, when most nest construction, repair and bird-friendly network modifications take place. Nest relocations are always carried out after consulting with the National Parks’ bird conservationists.

E.ON Hungária Group’s financial commitment to bird protection measures this year, solely financed by the energy company, totals several hundred million forints.

For decades, climate change communication has largely relied on alarming predictions and dire consequences. But is this truly the most effective way to mobilize people toward a more sustainable future? Zsombor Barta, founding partner of Greenbors Consulting, highlighted in an interview with Portfolio that a new approach is emerging in the field of sustainability: the focus is shifting toward positive examples and financial incentives.

According to the expert, achieving sustainability goals requires more than just raising awareness about risks – businesses and decision-makers must also showcase the benefits of adopting an environmentally conscious business model. A great example of this trend can be observed in the real estate market, where sustainable developments are not only beneficial for the environment but also prove to be financially rewarding investments.

Barta emphasized that companies are increasingly integrating ESG principles into their operations, and not just to meet regulatory requirements. Innovative developments such as Edge Technologies’ intelligent and sustainable buildings demonstrate that environmentally friendly solutions can enhance productivity and increase corporate value.

Financial incentives also play a crucial role. Aligning with ESG frameworks can lead to better financing conditions, while energy-efficient investments reduce long-term costs. In Hungary, more green financial solutions are becoming available, but there is still room for growth in this area.

Overall, Zsombor Barta pointed out that the key to a successful transition to a sustainable economy lies in presenting a positive vision and applying the right financial incentives. We fully support this perspective: we believe that sustainability is not about restrictions but about creating new opportunities for businesses and society alike. When companies and consumers view sustainability not as a burden but as a business and economic advantage, it can drive real and lasting change.
Read the whole article on Portfolio:

https://www.portfolio.hu/uzlet/20250221/nem-mukodnek-a-riaszto-klimajoslatok-uj-megkozelites-hodit-742203

Assin Amoabin in Ghana, with 2000 inhabitants, has no piped water supply. Residents get water from a community borehole, but it is unfit for drinking. There are visible traces of bacteria and iron and manganese contamination in the water. Community members have often complained about the bad taste and smell of the water, and they also find it challenging to use the water for household activities.

Our company has been working in Ghana for several years so we are familiar with the local wastewater and drinking water problems. This is how, after joint reflection and problem identification, we developed the most appropriate innovative, cost-effective and sustainable drinking water supply system for the site, the PurAID®-based IDWP project, which was delivered and launched in the Assin Amoabin municipality at the end of 2024.

At the heart of the IDWP concept is the PurAID®, a modular drinking water treatment system manufactured by Puraset Ltd, a member of our Group. The UN-recognised drinking water treatment technology uses regenerable adsorbents to remove contaminants such as iron, manganese, ammonia, arsenic, fluoride and bacteria making good quality potable water.

Our healthy drinking water kiosk is easy to install and provides safe drinking water for residents. The drinking water is sold at an affordable price for local residents so that safe drinking water is not an additional burden. PurAID® IDWP brings significant social and environmental benefits. The water is supplied in 18-litre jerry cans with taps that can be refilled over a long period of time, so the project is a positive response to the otherwise serious problem of plastic waste pollution.

Other benefits of IDWP include:

• no water loss,
• the drinking water is purified using renewable adsorbents, no hazardous waste generated,
• local jobs are created,
• facilitates access to safe drinking water for children and women.

The introduction and installation of the PurAID® IDWP would not have been possible without the support of the leaders of Assin Amoabin and the local community. The success of the project was also supported by the local drinking water provider (Community Water and Sanitation Agency, CWSA) and the Jospong Group of Companies (JGC), which provided significant support for the piloting and roll-out of the solution.

Building on the success of the first IDWP project, we plan to deploy similar systems in the medium term to provide a sustainable solution for all communities that need access to safe drinking water.