Gas turbines are in high demand. The situation could threaten Czech decarbonisation plans

The market for turbines for gas-fired and combined-cycle power plants is facing high demand driven by ambitious decarbonisation targets, a growing need for flexible generation sources and potentially higher electricity consumption resulting from the expansion of data centres. Increased demand could mean that gas-fired and combined-cycle power plants will not be ready as quickly as the ambitious decarbonisation plans of a number of countries, including the Czech Republic, require. 

The transition to low-emission energy systems in many countries is based on the development of renewable sources, to be complemented by gas-fired and combined-cycle power plants. In this context, gas is often described as a bridging fuel that will ensure grid stability and sufficient flexibility during the shift away from coal-fired generation towards renewables.

The Czech Republic is no exception. For these very reasons, up to 5 GW of new gas-fired and combined-cycle capacity could be built in the Czech Republic by 2030. Of this, the state-controlled company ČEZ plans to build 1.5 GW. Other new capacity will be built by companies from the EPH Group, with projects planned, for example, by the Opatovice power plant and the Komořany power plant.