Electricity exports from Czechia continue to fall, net exports down 30% last year to 6.4 TWh

Electricity exports from Czechia continue to fall. Last year, net exports amounted to 6.4 terawatt-hours (TWh), almost 30 percent less year on year. The largest exports went to Austria, while imports of electricity from Germany outweighed exports. This follows from data published by ČEPS, the state-owned transmission system operator.

Electricity exports have been declining for several years in a row. According to an analysis by the Ministry of Industry and Trade last year, the Czech Republic is likely to become a net importer of electricity in 2027. Under a critical scenario that assumes an earlier end to operations at domestic coal-fired power plants, imports could already outweigh exports this year. The Ministry of Industry and Trade said, however, that the critical scenario was unlikely.

„Coal-fired power generation is declining in particular. Because of emissions allowances, it is often more expensive than renewable sources across the border. Czechia therefore needs to build renewable energy sources, especially wind power plants, as well as nuclear sources,“ ČEZ energy group spokesperson Ladislav Kříž told ČTK in response to the latest developments.

ČEZ has previously announced plans to end coal-fired power generation by 2030 at the latest. Current government plans envisage a move away from coal by 2033. Sev.en, another major operator of coal-fired units in the Czech Republic, did not rule out last year the possibility of scaling them back in the coming years.

According to ČEPS data, the largest exports from the Czech Republic last year went to Austria, where net exports amounted to 4.4 TWh. Slovakia followed with 4.1 TWh. The balance with Poland also remained slightly in export territory, with exports exceeding imports by 0.7 TWh. This does not mean, however, that these countries were the final recipients; the electricity may have passed through their territory on its way elsewhere. By contrast, the Czech Republic was a net importer from Germany, with net imports from that direction reaching 2.8 TWh.

According to an analysis presented by ČEPS last year, the Czech energy system could face problems securing sufficient resources to ensure reliable energy supplies in ten years’ time, despite increased electricity imports from abroad. Resources with a capacity of up to 1900 megawatts (MW) will therefore need to be built by 2035. The shortfall could be even greater in the event of extreme weather.

According to government strategies, the domestic energy mix will in the future rely on a combination of nuclear power and renewable sources. The government expects gas to serve as a transitional fuel until these are built.

sip snm