Visualising a Greener Future: DESVIX’s Role in the Mělník Power Plant Overhaul

On the outskirts of Mělník, a landmark power plant is undergoing one of the Czech Republic’s most ambitious infrastructure modernisations. Owned by ČEZ, the project aims to shift to gas-fired units with four new chimneys—an overhaul designed to run through 2030 and cost approximately 13 billion CZK. While this upgrade promises cleaner energy, it sparked a critical question: how would such a vast industrial complex fit into the surrounding landscape?

Enter DESVIX. In collaboration with ČEZ and MSA Architects, we transformed architectural plans and environmental compliance into fully immersive, web-based visualisations. Our goal was simple yet profound: merge advanced industrial infrastructure with its natural context, while forecasting the impact of greenery required under Environmental Impact Assessment regulations.

Embedding Industrial Scale into the Landscape

DESVIX began by building a detailed virtual twin of the revamped Mělník plant. Rather than hiding behind technical schematics, we integrated these models directly into interactive web-based platforms. Stakeholders—from local authorities to environmental watchdogs—could explore the plant’s new structures in true-to-life scale.

This experience did more than depict industrial machinery; it allowed users to see exactly how four new chimneys would punctuate the skyline and how existing structures would be softened by landscaping. Through our immersive interface, users gained spatial awareness of buffer zones, proximity to the riverbank, and relationships to nearby woodlands.

Simulating Green Spaces to Meet EIA Standards

One of the most demanding issues in the project was complying with Czech EIA regulations, which specify precise criteria for green-conditioning: quantity, location, and density of new plantings. DESVIX tackled this challenge head-on, layering botanical simulations—trees, shrubs, ground cover—over proposed planting zones.

Our simulations helped demonstrate how green belts and strategic buffer zones would wrap around the facility’s perimeter. By dynamically adjusting vegetation density, height, and species mix, we empowered planners to test various scenarios and meet regulatory obligations before a single seed was sown.

The result: a persuasive, evidence-based visual argument that the upgraded plant not only adhered to EIA requirements, but also supported biodiversity and landscape integration.

A Platform for Collaboration and Consent

Beyond compliance visuals, DESVIX provided a shared environment where ČEZ teams, MSA Architects, regulators, and community stakeholders could convene. In virtual workshops, participants could explore views from critical vantage points—including nearby villages and river routes—assess visual intrusions and have real-time conversations on design adjustments.

This collaborative VR process streamlined decision-making, accelerated procurement alignment, and preempted potential community concerns. What might have required multiple neighborhood meetings and printed boards was instead accomplished in a virtual space—democratic, accessible, and interactive.

Why It Matters

The DESVIX intervention at Mělník redefines how major industrial projects can approach both environmental responsibility and public accountability. Our VR-driven solutions enabled:

• Visual transparency: Clear, context-rich views of the proposed plant in its real environment.
• Regulatory confidence: Quantifiable simulations of greening strategies that satisfy EIA benchmarks.
• Stakeholder engagement: A virtual forum for collaborative review and rapid feedback.

In short, DESVIX helped ČEZ and MSA pivot from presenting static plans to inviting stakeholders into an evolving, visual narrative—one that harmonises heavy infrastructure with its natural context.

Looking Ahead

With the construction soon underway, the DESVIX model will evolve in parallel. As planting phases progress, we can overlay live drone data onto the VR twin, tracking the actual growth of green spaces against projected schemes. This ongoing visual verification adds a layer of accountability and narrative continuity—from design to delivery.

The Mělník plant overhaul exemplifies how immersive digital tools can elevate infrastructure projects—not only in technical execution, but in environmental stewardship and social trust. For DESVIX, it marks another milestone: proving that even the most industrial landscapes can be re-visualised as living, integrated elements of their surroundings.