Strong demand for solar PV in Czechia continues, ČEZ and E.ON report significant growth

Strong demand for solar power installations in Czechia is continuing this year. Energy company ČEZ Prodej had installed 2100 systems by the end of May, 50 percent more year on year. E.ON also reported a fivefold increase in installations compared with last year. Both companies are also promising faster installations. This is according to information from the two companies.

ČEZ Prodej is currently speeding up its installation process, according to the company’s CEO, Tomáš Kadlec, and can now complete installations within four months in most cases. Kadlec said that digitising project preparation is helping to speed things up. In cooperation with OIG Power, ČEZ has also expanded its range of battery solutions with new types. The company expects battery-equipped solar installations to account for around 70 percent of installations this year.

In response to the current market situation, where many suppliers are struggling to fulfil orders, the company will also change its deposit system. „Unfortunately, the huge demand has attracted new suppliers to the market with no experience whatsoever, and thousands of people are still waiting in vain for their solar power systems. Customers have therefore become cautious and want greater guarantees, for example by avoiding large advance payments. We want to accommodate them, so we will require only a 10 percent payment when the contract is signed. We would like to help restore people’s shaken confidence in solar power,“ Kadlec said.

According to ČEZ, the standard market deposit is 40 to 50 percent. Kadlec said the company requires further payments once connection to the distribution grid has been secured and an installation date set.

E.ON also wants to speed up installations. The company acknowledged that strong demand had caused delays in fulfilling some orders in recent months. As a result, among other reasons, the company stopped accepting new inquiries for more than four months. During this period, the company increased the capacity of its employees and installation partners and switched to a new system, according to Ondřej Hájek, the company’s head of customer solutions. E.ON now installs around 110 solar systems a week, and the entire process currently takes up to six months, according to the company.

Last year, 33.760 solar installations with a total capacity of 288,8 megawatts (MW) were commissioned in Czechia, a year-on-year increase of 366 percent. Heat pump installations also doubled, with more than 60.000 installed.

Despite strong demand, some companies are facing difficulties. The biggest case so far is the troubles at Energetický holding Malina, which is insolvent due to problems fulfilling a large number of orders. In its insolvency petition, the company acknowledged liabilities of nearly 1,4 billion crowns, including customer deposits. Other companies are also experiencing difficulties.