Dozens of Czech apartment buildings share their own electricity, with greater interest expected in communities

More than a year and a half after the scheme began, dozens of apartment buildings in Czechia are sharing electricity generated by their own source among households. Distributors say interest in sharing is gradually growing. This is according to information from energy companies approached by the Czech News Agency (ČTK). Since the beginning of last year, buildings have been able to distribute electricity generated, for example, by a photovoltaic power plant on their roofs among individual households. Distributors, however, expect significantly greater interest in energy sharing within communities, which have been able to register since August.

ČEZ has the highest number of active electricity-sharing groups in apartment buildings in its distribution area. According to Soňa Holingerová, spokesperson for ČEZ Distribuce, there are 96 sharing groups. However, she said it is not possible to specify exactly whether these are exclusively apartment buildings. The registered participants also include various legal entities and individuals. Around 20 apartment buildings also share electricity within the PREdistribuce distribution network. „Interest in electricity sharing in apartment buildings has been growing recently,“ said spokesperson Karel Hanzelka. EG.D also confirmed a gradual increase in demand and currently lists 16 projects in operation. „For most of last year, we received only a handful of applications. Last summer, there were around three projects. Interest then began to rise towards the end of last year, and particularly in the first half of this year,“ said spokesperson Lubomír Budný.

The distributors did not specify the size of the groups or how sharing is arranged among individual households. They said this depends on the size of the building, the equipment installed and the services used in the building.

Distributors expect greater interest in community energy, which will make it possible to share locally generated electricity across the entire distribution network—for example, within established communities, or from a cottage to an apartment and beyond. Those interested in community sharing have been able to register since the beginning of this August.

ČEZ, for example, had received nearly 5,000 registrations from entities in the first two weeks and had registered around 170 groups. „So there is considerable interest. Given the registration deadlines, we can expect hundreds of sharing groups to be able to share electricity from 1 September,“ Holingerová said.

EG.D and Pražská energetika have also prepared for community sharing. „At PRE, we are fully prepared for sharing at every level. Information systems for data processing and billing are ready, and a specialist team has also been set up to serve customers taking part in sharing. At PREdistribuce, we are ready to equip the necessary consumption points with smart meters,“ Hanzelka said.

Those interested in sharing electricity can register with the Electricity Data Centre (EDC). Sharing requires smart meters to be installed at all consumption points; distributors install them free of charge. Once all requirements have been met and a contract has been signed, active sharing will be made available to participants.