Czech electricity grid under greatest strain in five years due to frost

The Czech electricity grid came under its greatest strain in the past five years on Thursday due to freezing temperatures. Gross instantaneous consumption exceeded 12,000 megawatts (MW) in the morning, approaching the record load of 12,226 MW recorded on 21 February 2021. Most demand was covered by thermal, gas-fired and nuclear sources, while solar power plants also made a modest contribution. State transmission system operator ČEPS reported this today on social network X.

The night from Wednesday to Thursday was the coldest night of this winter so far. The average minimum temperature at stations located up to 600 metres above sea level was around minus 12.5 degrees Celsius. The previous temperature low was broken at six stations with measurement records longer than 30 years.

"The current freezing temperatures are increasing consumption by heat pumps, electric heaters and other electric heating sources," ČEPS said.

The system operator recorded the highest gross grid load, including power plants' own consumption, shortly after 10:00 on Thursday.

According to ČEPS, thermal, gas-fired, combined-cycle gas turbine and nuclear sources covered most of demand, accounting for 89 percent. Despite the winter, photovoltaic power plants also made a modest contribution, with a share of around six percent.

Distributors have also confirmed increased energy consumption at the start of the year in recent days. Natural gas offtake rose by nearly a quarter compared with the same period last year, according to the largest gas distributor, GasNet. Compared with the turn of the year two years ago, consumption is up by as much as half. Electricity offtake also rose by several percent, ČEZ and EG.D confirmed.

Temperatures across the Czech Republic have remained below freezing in recent days. Parts of the country were also hit by heavy snowfall early this morning, moving from western Bohemia into other regions. Snow is disrupting transport in many places. Snowfall is expected across most of the country during the morning, with precipitation easing in the second half of the day. Freezing temperatures are expected to continue over the weekend and at the start of next week.