Czech electricity projects of common interest – Part 1

This article discusses so-called projects of common interest in the electricity sector. It will describe what these projects are, what conditions a project must meet in order to be included on this list, and what this subsequently means for it. It will then describe in greater detail the individual electricity projects being prepared in Czechia that are included on the PCI project list. Given the breadth of the topic, the article will be divided into two parts: Part 1 on PCI projects in general and one specific project, and Part 2 on the remaining projects.

Projects of common interest (PCI – Projects of Common Interest)

PCI projects are defined in Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council (European Union) No. 347/2013, and their purpose is to help achieve targets approved as binding for individual European Union Member States or for Europe as a whole.

The aforementioned Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council grants priority status to projects of cross-border significance. The aim of this priority status is to guarantee the highest possible national importance and a regime under which specific provisions aimed at accelerating permitting procedures apply to them. In addition, provided they meet the conditions, they may receive EU financial support.

The basic conditions set out in Article 4 of this Regulation – namely, requirements to ensure the security and reliability of operation not only of the transmission system in the given Member State, but also to contribute to meeting European targets with regard to the operational security of the entire interconnected system – are also met by certain projects from the investment plan of ČEPS.

These ČEPS projects were assessed on the basis of the published benefit assessment methodology as part of the process of preparing the European Ten-Year Network Development Plan, which is produced by the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity (“ENTSO-E”). The projects listed below were successful in the benefit assessment and were therefore included on the list of projects of common interest.

Five ČEPS projects have been included among PCI projects:

• Domestic Vernéřov-Vítkov line
• Domestic Vítkov-Přeštice line
• Domestic Přeštice-Kočín line
• Domestic Kočín-Mírovka line
• Domestic Mírovka-V413 line

As can be seen in the diagram below, these lines form a transmission route from the Ústí Region through western and southern Bohemia to the existing V413 line in the Vysočina Region.

This transmission route already exists to a certain extent today, but the implementation of these projects will significantly reinforce it.

1. Domestic Vernéřov-Vítkov line PCI 3.11.1

a) Vernéřov substation, new 420 kV substation

The new 420 kV Vernéřov substation is located in the Ústí Region, northwest of the town of Kadaň. The substation location was selected to minimise its environmental impact while enabling the most efficient possible transmission of electric power through the transmission system.

The construction of this substation was proposed primarily on the basis of a request from distribution company ČEZ Distribuce to secure reserved connection capacity and output. The requirement arose from developments in the generation base and consumption in the distribution area, primarily as a replacement for the planned shutdown of two units at Prunéřov I power plant, which is connected to the 110 kV Vernéřov substation. The substation is also needed to evacuate power from a planned wind farm in the Chomutov area. 

The construction of this substation was an important strategic step in addressing the energy situation in the northwestern part of the transmission system.

Construction of the substation began in 2015, and in September 2017 permission for its early use was granted and the substation was commissioned. Subsequently, in December of the same year, the substation received final occupancy approval. Finishing work was still under way in the first half of 2018, after which this part of PCI 3.11.1 was successfully completed.

b) Vítkov substation, new 420 kV substation

The new 420 kV Vítkov substation will be located in the Karlovy Vary Region, south of the town of Sokolov. Its location has been selected in close proximity to the existing 220/110 kV transformer station in order to meet environmental protection requirements while ensuring the most economical technical implementation of the project.

The construction of the substation is proposed as a measure to ensure electricity supplies to the adjacent areas of the Karlovy Vary region. The substation will also be used to connect planned renewable energy sources in western Bohemia to the transmission system. Construction of this substation will reinforce the transmission system in western Bohemia and enable a gradual transition from the 220 kV system to 400 kV.

A building permit was issued in September 2016, and the project was handed over to the contractor in April 2018, marking the start of construction work, which was expected to be completed in 2020.

c) V487/488 Vernéřov – Vítkov

The new double-circuit 400 kV Vernéřov–Vítkov line, with the operating designation V487/488 and a total length of 83 km, will be largely (approximately 70 km) rebuilt from the existing double-circuit 220 kV line designated V223/224, running between the 220 kV Hradec and Vítkov substations. The V487/488 line will run through the Ústí and Karlovy Vary regions.

Approximately 13 km of the V487/488 route, from the new Vernéřov substation to the vicinity of the Hradec substation, will need to be built on a greenfield site. From the Hradec substation onwards, the corridor of the existing V223/224 line will be used as far as the Vítkov substation, with one exception. This is the area near the village of Nadlesí, where the line will be relocated from the existing corridor.

The construction of this line will reinforce the transmission system in northwestern Bohemia, ensure the reliable connection of both of the above-mentioned substations to the transmission system, increase the reliability of electricity supplies in the Karlovy Vary and Ústí regions, and serve as a system measure for the gradual phase-out of the 220 kV grid.

A favourable EIA opinion has already been issued for this project, and in June 2018 the corridor for the future line was incorporated into the Spatial Development Principles of the Karlovy Vary Region. Construction of the line is planned for 2021 to 2023.

As stated above, the remaining 4 PCI projects will be presented in the second part of this article.

Sources: ČEPS a.s., European Commission