Czech wind power generation rose 9.5% last year, but the country still lags behind

Wind turbines in the Czech Republic generated 693 megawatt-hours of electricity last year, up 9.5 percent year on year. Despite this, domestic wind turbines cover only one percent of domestic consumption. The Czech Republic is therefore significantly behind the European average, which rose to 19 percent last year. Neighbouring countries also generate more electricity from wind. The Czech News Agency (ČTK) was informed of this today by the Chamber of Renewable Energy Sources (OZE) and the Czech Wind Energy Association. Domestic generation is expected to continue rising gradually; five new wind turbines were built in Czechia last year

According to industry organisations, the main reason for last year's increase was more favourable weather for wind generation. The turbines built last year will not be commissioned until this year. The total output was therefore equivalent to the annual consumption of more than 200.000 households, according to the organisations.

Despite this, the figure is one of the lowest in Europe, according to Michal Janeček, chairman of the Czech Wind Energy Association. „Wind generation in Czechia still covers only one percent of electricity consumption. In neighbouring Poland, it is 13 percent, in Austria 14 percent and in Germany 31 percent of consumption,” he said. Denmark has the largest share of wind power in its electricity mix, at 56 percent, followed by Ireland at 36 percent. Across the EU, the average share of wind power rose from 17 percent to 19 percent, according to an analysis published today by Wind Europe.

Despite the further increase in wind energy's share, the pace of construction is still only half what is needed, according to the Wind Europe analysis. While the analysis previously criticised countries mainly for slow permitting processes, it now identifies limited grid connection capacity as the key bottleneck.

„The situation is similar in Czechia. Permitting for new wind turbines will be shortened to a maximum of two years thanks to the new construction permitting process and legislative changes nearing completion, and to one year in acceleration zones,” said Štěpán Chalupa, chairman of the Chamber of Renewable Energy Sources. „The biggest obstacle at the moment is insufficient grid connection capacity, much of which is being blocked by speculative or unfeasible projects, although positive measures are also being taken in this area.

It is certainly necessary to continue and focus intensively on modernising the electricity grid,” Chalupa added.

Including the new turbines, there are currently 345 installations in the Czech Republic, with a total capacity of 352 megawatts (MW). Industry representatives expect 300 to 400 new turbines to be built by 2030, bringing total capacity to 2000 MW. After 2030, they anticipate further new turbines with a capacity of around 5000 MW. In total, wind turbines are expected to cover 31 percent of today's annual electricity consumption, according to the organisations.

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