Analysis: Czechia uses only a few percent of its renewable energy potential

The Czech Republic is using only a fraction of its available renewable energy potential. The figure is five percent for wind power and just under six percent for rooftop photovoltaics. This is according to an analysis by the Chamber of Renewable Energy Sources based on data from the Energy Regulatory Office, which CTK has seen. The analysis also finds that the development of biogas plants and small hydropower plants has stagnated in recent years.

Wind power development in Czechia has lagged behind for a long time. Czech wind turbines cover one percent of domestic consumption. According to a study by the Institute of Atmospheric Physics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, wind power plants could cover 31 percent of current annual electricity consumption. The chamber says suitable sites for wind farms exist in all Czech regions. According to the analysis, the regions with the greatest potential are Moravian-Silesian, South Moravian and Vysočina. The Liberec Region is the leader in using its potential, at 26 percent. The South Bohemian Region is the worst performer, at zero.

„In the past, regional authorities were often the main obstacle to wind power development, along with lengthy permitting processes. This changed to a large extent after the energy crisis, and some regions have already begun actively preparing wind power projects themselves,” said Štěpán Chalupa, chairman of the Chamber of Renewable Energy Sources.

Despite the boom in demand in recent years, Czechia is also lagging behind in tapping the potential of rooftop photovoltaics, according to the chamber. Solar power plants account for around four percent of consumption, according to statistics. In terms of installations per capita, the analysis finds the highest figures in the Vysočina Region, at 8.6 percent, and in the South Bohemian Region, at eight percent. „Even in these regions, however, there is still enormous untapped potential. Across Czechia, we have so far used less than six percent of the roof area suitable for photovoltaics,“ Chalupa said. According to the analysis, Prague is the worst performer in using its rooftop solar potential, at 1.3 percent.

Wind power plants generated 693 megawatt-hours of electricity in Czechia last year, 9.5 percent more year on year. Despite the increase, wind power still accounts for around one percent of Czech consumption. Czechia is therefore well below the European average, which rose to 19 percent last year. Neighbouring countries also generate more electricity from wind.

More than 191,000 photovoltaic power plants with a capacity of 3.94 GW are currently connected to the grid in Czechia. A record 82,799 new solar power installations were commissioned last year, 49,039 more than in 2022. Growth has slowed this year.