Czech Senate committee again rejects checks on some solar power plants

The Senate Committee on Economic Affairs has again rejected the introduction of individual checks on selected solar power plants. Today, it recommended amending the Energy Act amendment, which is intended to speed up permitting for new combined-cycle gas-fired power plants, despite the Chamber of Deputies rejecting an almost identical Senate amendment three months ago. The committee agreed on the change despite warnings from Minister of Industry and Trade Lukáš Vlček (STAN), who said it would jeopardise the timely adoption of the bill because the Chamber of Deputies would have to consider it again

The change concerns individual profitability checks for solar power plants commissioned in 2009 and 2010. They were originally to apply to plants with a capacity of 30 kilowatts or more; under the current amendment, the scope would be narrowed to plants with a capacity above 145 kilowatts. The government wants to save budget funds spent on support for renewable energy sources.

However, committee chairman Miroslav Plevný (for STAN) said the measure changes the rules mid-game, places an administrative burden on plant operators and is impossible to comply with in some cases. He said it could lead to arbitration and jeopardise the Czech Republic's climate commitments. Plevný believes that operators who bought the plants in recent years would be unable to meet the requirements, exposing them to fines of up to 50 million crowns.