Czechia’s largest electric boiler begins operation, will stabilise power system as well as supply heat

A newly built steam electric boiler at Poříčí Power Plant has become the latest addition to the group of large electric boilers in the Czech Republic. According to the ČEZ Group, the new electric boiler will serve as a backup source for stabilising the power system and as a replacement heat source in the Trutnov area. 

The new electric boiler supplies 42 tonnes of steam per hour to the steam and hot-water network in the Trutnov area, and its 30 MW capacity makes it the largest of its kind in the Czech Republic. Its operating licence has been valid since 30 September 2020.

 “The original idea behind building the electric boiler was based on the intention to reduce the summer interruption in heat supplies to customers to a minimum. This intention was successfully fulfilled and, as a bonus, we managed to certify the electric boiler for the provision of ancillary services in the power system,” explained Martin Hrubý, director of Poříčí and Hodonín power plants. 

There are not yet many large electric boilers in the Czech Republic. The first 12 MW hot-water electric boiler was installed at the Příbram heating plant in 2014. Other examples include the ŠKO-ENERGO heating plant in Mladá Boleslav, which commissioned a 15 MW electric boiler in 2016.

Two further hot-water electric boilers were then commissioned in 2017. The first was at the Kladno heating plant – 14 MW – and the second at ČEZ’s Tušimice power plant – 7 MW. Brno heating plants have also used a 20 MW hot-water electric boiler since 2018.

The function of these electric boilers is not only to supply heat; most of them also provide the Czech transmission system operator ČEPS with ancillary services, namely negative 15-minute manual frequency restoration reserve (mFRR15-).

Lead photo source: ČEZ