Above-average warm winters trouble Czech heating plants

Czech heating plants are reporting another above-average warm winter, the third in a row, although it was somewhat colder than the previous one, mainly due to colder January and March. According to the Czech District Heating Association (TSČR), most heating plants recorded a slight increase in heat supplies compared with the previous winter. Overall, last winter meant a year-on-year increase in heat consumption in an average apartment of 0.6 GJ.

The last three above-average warm winters have resulted in lower heat supplies from Czech heating plants. Although the course of the last three winters differed, their average temperature was always almost 2 °C above the long-term norm, according to TSČR.

“The period of very mild winters is continuing, which is reflected in heat consumption. The last winter was only marginally colder than the two preceding ones.”

Martin Hájek, executive director of the Czech District Heating Association

According to Hájek, every degree above the long-term norm represents a reduction in heat consumption of approximately 6%. Due to the colder January and March, heat consumption in an average apartment increased year on year by 0.6 GJ.

Heat consumption in a standard apartment is falling

A smaller increase in heat supplies was recorded in areas where energy-saving measures such as building insulation had been completed. Energy-saving measures on the consumption side and growing competition in the heat market are among the current challenges facing Czech heating plants.

Since 1990, average annual heat consumption for heating and water heating in a standard apartment has fallen from 60 to 25 GJ, according to TSČR.

“In district heating, the Czech Republic is in the EU’s premier league, led by the Scandinavian countries of Sweden, Denmark and Finland. Unlike in these countries, where heat consumption has grown continuously since the 1950s despite rising efficiency, Czech district heating had to cope with a sharp decline in heat consumption in the 1990s. The downward trend in consumption continues to this day thanks to building insulation.”

Martin Hájek, executive director of the Czech District Heating Association.

Heat consumption in district heating systems has fallen by more than 24% in the past 15 years alone. Detailed statistics on Czech district heating, including average thermal energy prices broken down by fuel and region, can be found in our new Statistics section.

Lead photo: Elektrárny Opatovice (source: www.epenergy.cz)