Solar plants with 1 GW of capacity built in Czechia this year, the most in 13 years

The development of solar energy in Czechia has accelerated significantly. According to preliminary data, solar power plants with a capacity of around one gigawatt (GW) were built this year, the most in the past 13 years. Last year, the capacity of new installations exceeded 288 MW. The combined capacity of all photovoltaic power plants in Czechia should now stand at 3.6 GW. The Czech News Agency (CTK) was told this today in a press release by the Modern Energy Union and the Solar Association. Despite this year’s growth, solar power still accounts for only around four percent of total electricity generation in Czechia, compared with 18 percent in the Netherlands and 14.6 percent in Spain, for example. Industry organizations say that restrictions in permitting processes are holding back further development.

„The estimated growth of up to a thousand new solar megawatts means Czechia is once again among the countries serious about gradually modernizing their energy sectors. Over the past two years, Czechia has seen a literal renaissance in solar energy. Photovoltaic panels have become a popular solution that protects households from rising energy prices on the market,“ said Martin Sedlák, program director of the Modern Energy Union, commenting on this year’s development.

Alongside households, where a sharp rise in demand for solar panels was already evident last year, larger solar parks on industrial buildings and ground-mounted photovoltaic installations are also on the rise.

Despite the strong growth, however, the development of solar energy in Czechia is running up against restrictions, according to Sedlák. „To make full use of the potential of photovoltaics, we need to streamline permitting processes and ensure the necessary capacity in the grid,“ Sedlák said. Jan Krčmář, executive director of the Solar Association, agrees. He says the Ministry for Regional Development, which is responsible for construction matters, is not very proactive in removing barriers. „At the same time, however, we risk Czech industry becoming uncompetitive in a few years if companies are unable to demonstrate genuinely significant consumption of green electricity, which cannot be achieved solely through rooftop installations,“ Krčmář noted.

Environment Minister Petr Hladík (KDU-ČSL) told CTK today that his ministry is working to speed up and cut red tape in permitting processes. He said this involves preparing acceleration zones where permits for new renewable energy sources can be obtained without unnecessary delays, because the zones will include areas where there is no risk of conflicts with nature protection. CTK was unable to obtain comment today from the Ministry for Regional Development.

Nearly all of Europe is reporting record growth in solar power plants. According to the association, photovoltaic plants with a capacity of 55.9 GW were built in the EU this year, bringing the bloc’s total solar capacity up 27 percent year on year to 263 GW. Germany leads the countries this year, with 14.1 GW of new photovoltaic capacity. It is followed by Spain, with growth of 8.2 GW; Italy, in third place, with 4.9 GW; Poland, in fourth, with 4.6 GW; and the Netherlands, in fifth, with 4.5 GW.

Czechia continues to lag behind in solar power’s share of total electricity generation, which is around four percent this year according to preliminary data. Among neighboring countries, only Slovakia has a lower share, at 1.7 percent. Photovoltaics account for 12.4 percent of total electricity generation in Germany, nine percent in Poland and 4.5 percent in Austria. EU leaders include the Netherlands, at 18 percent, and Spain, at 14.6 percent.