Solar energy has gained a new impetus for its development in the Czech Republic through the possible inclusion of photovoltaics in the auction support. Representatives of trade unions, which were approached by ČTK, agreed on this. Today, the deputies decided on the possible inclusion of photovoltaics in the prepared system. Energy auctions operate in a number of European countries, in which producers of energy from renewable sources compete for the amount of operating aid. The idea is that the state will determine how much wind power plants it wants to have, for example, and producers will compete in the auction for who can supply a given volume of electricity to the grid with the lowest public support.
The Association of Modern Energy stated that photovoltaics was one of the sources that the government wanted to support with this mechanism – wind power plants, small hydropower plants and landfill gas. Whether the state announces auctions will depend on future governments. “We believe that the next government will use this market support mechanism to achieve the necessary emission reductions and help replace coal, which is increasingly burdened by the price of emission allowances,” Martin Sedlák, the union’s program director, said today.
“If the amendment is not vetoed by the President of the Republic, it will enable the development of the most promising solar and wind power plants in the Czech Republic. However, the amendment is only the first, albeit important, step. energy plan and update the state energy concept in such a way that both documents take into account the potential we have in the Czech Republic in the field of renewable sources, “said Tomáš Jagoš, an expert on renewable sources and community energy of the Rainbow Environmental Movement.
However, according to the chairman of the Solar Association, Jan Krčmář, the inclusion of photovoltaics in auctions for the future use of energy from the sun is the only positive news. It criticizes the fact that the government will decide on the adequacy of support for the production of electricity from renewable sources by its regulation. According to the amendment, the so-called internal rate of return (IRR), simply the return on investment in a renewable source during the duration of the support, will range from 8.4 percent to 10.6 percent.
“In the future, the statements of the Minister of Industry (Karel Havlíček for YES) are not promising for photovoltaics. Said the Innkeeper. He stated that the Solar Association repeatedly promoted uniform and non-discriminatory conditions for all types of supported sources during the discussion of the amendment. “Unfortunately, this amendment to the government amendment did not find the support of the majority of the House,” he added.
The Chamber of Renewable Energy Sources believes that the approved amendment is essential for the transformation of the Czech energy sector. She stated that after a decade of stagnation of renewable energy sources (RES) in the Czech Republic, it provides a framework and sets rules for their future development. “The move now is a new government that should clearly set a deadline for ending coal, stop exporting electricity at the expense of health and climate, and enforce taxation of every tonne of CO2 released into the atmosphere. But the most important thing is to start taking renewables really seriously. ” said the chairman of the chamber Štěpán Chalupa.
According to data from the Electricity Market Operator (OTE), 29.1 billion crowns went to support solar power plants in the Czech Republic last year. According to OTE, the total annual amount of the contribution provided to supported energy sources in the Czech Republic last year was 45.4 billion crowns and thus stagnated at a similar level as in 2019. Since 2006, over 430 billion crowns have been paid to support POZE in the Czech Republic. Last year, the state contributed 27 billion crowns to the subsidy, the rest was paid by customers in electricity bills.
