Report: An extraordinary September in Czech energy. Weather had a major impact on electricity generation

The power sector in the Czech Republic was significantly affected by the weather in September this year. While generation from solar power plants lagged behind the trend seen so far this year, generation from hydroelectric and wind power plants rose exceptionally. Statistics, meanwhile, show that generation from fossil fuels continues to decline. A new monthly report shows how the Czech energy sector is evolving.  

The Czech energy sector continues to feel the effects of high electricity prices. Electricity consumption also declined slightly in September and remains approximately 1 % lower for the year as a whole than in the same period last year. This is at least what statistics from the transmission system operator, published through the ENTSO-E platform, show.

You can find the September monthly report on the Czech power sector HERE.

Electricity generation recorded a noticeably worse result. Despite a slight increase in September, total electricity generation this year is nearly 5 % lower than in the comparable period last year.

The decline in total electricity generation is mainly attributable to fossil-fuel sources. Both lignite- and hard coal-fired power plants have recorded their worst first nine months of the year since at least 2015, when ENTSO-E began publishing these data. Compared with last year, plants such as Dětmarovice, Počerady and Chvaletice generated substantially less electricity.

Wind and hydro surged, while solar generation “surprisingly” stagnated

Weather had a major influence on electricity generation in September. September was exceptionally wet overall, which was reflected in generation from hydroelectric power plants. Their operators pre-emptively released water from the plants to increase their storage capacity and thus prevent greater flood damage.

In figures, hydroelectric plants generated approximately 145 % more electricity than in September of the previous year.  Hydroelectric capacity has remained more or less unchanged year on year. Higher generation was therefore primarily caused by the weather.

Wind power plants also had a similarly successful month. Their generation in September rose by nearly 100 % year on year. Thanks in part to this month, wind power generation at the end of September was the highest in at least the past 9 years.

By contrast, solar power plants had a relatively weaker month. So far, they had generated significantly more in every month of the year than in the preceding year. This September was the exception, with electricity generation essentially comparable to last year’s.

You can find a comprehensive report on the Czech power sector at this link.