ČEZ ESCO's energy-saving projects in Czechia increased savings to 407 million Kč last year

Last year, comprehensive energy-saving projects (EPC) run by Enesa, part of the ČEZ ESCO group, generated energy savings worth 407 million Kč. That was 15 million Kč more than the year before. The increase was mainly driven by the growing size of projects. Total investment in projects for which the company signed contracts last year amounted to 1.43 billion Kč. Kamil Čermák, CEO of ČEZ ESCO, told the Czech News Agency (ČTK).

So-called energy performance contracting (EPC) includes modernising equipment to reduce energy use, typically by replacing lighting with more energy-efficient alternatives, for example. Contracts guarantee clients that their supplier will deliver the savings; otherwise, the supplier has to pay the difference itself. ČEZ ESCO accounts for around 60 percent of this market. Other companies involved in EPC projects include Enetiqa, Amper and the Sev.en group.

According to Enesa, the total guaranteed savings across all projects to date amount to 2.2 billion Kč. Čermák said the potential of the entire market was substantial. „There are still tens of thousands of buildings in Czechia that deserve modernisation and lower costs,“ he said.

One of the largest EPC projects launched last year was an energy-saving programme at Na Homolce Hospital. According to the hospital’s director, Petr Paloušek, the model will save 30 million Kč in energy costs per year. Another new project was launched at regional buildings in the Pardubice Region, where savings are expected to reach 13 million Kč a year. „We want to use the savings, for example, for major infrastructure projects or to improve the quality of life of our citizens,“ said Martin Netolický, governor of the Pardubice Region. Other major projects currently under way are at Thomayer Hospital in Prague, the Prague Congress Centre, the hospital in Mladá Boleslav and the remand prison in Prague’s Pankrác district.

ČEZ ESCO is a subsidiary of ČEZ. It focuses on services related to modern energy, decarbonisation and reducing carbon footprints for industrial customers, municipalities and institutions. It employs more than 2100 people. The year before last, the company reported a net profit of 1.6 billion Kč, compared with a loss of half a billion Kč in 2022.