Solar power for businesses in Czechia? Attractive grants and fast payback

Since 2024, large enterprises and small businesses alike have had a great opportunity to secure highly attractive grants for installing a solar power plant. The Ministry of the Environment and the State Environmental Fund of the Czech Republic are releasing billions in investment from the Modernisation Fund and the RES+ programme. The offer is time-limited, however, so we recommend acting as soon as possible.

“A specialist company can ensure a smooth process, professional installation and all the necessary administrative work—from permitting procedures and communication with the distribution company about connecting the plant to securing attractive grants.” says Ing. Miroslav Mikeš, managing director of SEFY Czech Republic s.r.o., which specialises in installing solar power plants for commercial buildings and family homes.

How much can my business receive in grants?

The new grants for solar power plants for businesses are available to a wide range of companies as well as public institutions. Business solar installations can receive support through calls from the State Environmental Fund and the Modernisation Fund’s RES+ programmes. New terms and attractive funding allocations are available in 2024.

“This gives a large number of businesses a unique opportunity to transform their energy mix and dramatically reduce their energy costs,” says Mikeš.

Which calls provide access to grant funding?

• RES+ Call No. 1/2024 – Solar power plants from 10 kW to 5 MW with on-site consumption (rooftop installations on commercial buildings)
• RES+ Call No. 2/2024 – Solar power plants with a capacity of over 1 MWp (ground-mounted installations without on-site consumption)
• RES+ Call No. 3/2024 – Solar power plants on public buildings (buildings and other infrastructure owned by municipalities with up to 3,000 inhabitants)
• RES+ Call No. 4/2024 – Solar power plants on buildings and other infrastructure (buildings owned by regions, municipalities and organisations owned by them)

Tip SEFY: Plants larger than 50 kWp cannot be built without a building permit. We can take care of the high-quality project documentation for you, making it straightforward to obtain the permit. After all, we handle almost all dealings with the authorities as part of our turnkey installation. This saves you time and gives you a complete turnkey solution, with everything included.

Each of these calls targets different types of businesses with different energy needs, but the conditions are largely similar. One general requirement is that solar systems must be used primarily for consumption at the point of connection. The grants are not intended for businesses looking to trade the electricity they generate.

Projects that include battery storage can also receive attractive support. Thanks to significant advances in battery storage in recent years, highly efficient solutions are now available for storing energy, even at large non-residential sites. This is one reason why battery storage combined with solar power for businesses is eligible for more favourable grants. Businesses do not have to consume the electricity generated by their solar panels “immediately”. They can store it in a battery and use it when needed, such as when the plant is not generating electricity.

This also allows your business to use solar energy efficiently when the plant is not generating electricity, reducing the need for expensive purchases from the distribution grid.

How can a business solar plant be monitored or controlled?

The grants support intelligent control systems that provide modern energy management, including metering and control components to optimise energy generation and consumption.

“At SEFY, we benefit from our close links with A-Z TRADERS, our sister company. A-Z TRADERS develops cutting-edge controls as well as a monitoring app that shows the entire energy cycle in your home or in a huge commercial operation powered by solar. This is one reason why we are among the first companies customers turn to when looking for solar power for a family home, apartment building or business,” Mikeš adds.

Does solar power pay off for businesses?

A number of businesses that SEFY has worked with to install solar power plants have achieved a return on investment in as little as 2 to 3 years. Commercial operations vary, but if businesses choose a good company capable of designing the right solar system, grants can help deliver a rapid return on investment.

SEFY Czech Republic s.r.o., now in its 8th year on the market, is one of the industry leaders. Last year, it deservedly received the prestigious Refsite award for the highest-rated company.

How demanding is the paperwork and bureaucracy involved in installing solar?

Securing a grant for a business solar power plant is more complicated than getting a solar installation for a family home. But with a trusted partner company, there is nothing to worry about.

Depending on the size of the plant, a number of aspects must be taken into account. Detailed electrical design documentation needs to be prepared, including an expert technical assessment of the existing electrical installation and, where necessary, further steps to ensure the safe operation of your solar power plant.

The documentation must also include construction and technical plans and a fire safety report, documenting all the components and technologies that will be part of the installation. This covers everything from descriptions and locations of cabling, penetrations and materials to the layout of panels and mounting structures, as well as the use of fire-protection components and related safety measures.

Electrical design documentation includes an expert technical assessment of the condition of your existing electrical installation and, where necessary, further steps to ensure the safe operation of your solar power plant.

There are further steps to take, such as contacting the distribution company about connecting the plant to the grid. SEFY offers a complete turnkey installation, including communication with the relevant authorities, so you can confidently leave this part to an experienced specialist company like SEFY.

With SEFY, you can expect a thorough on-site inspection to identify the best solution for your business; complete handling of grant applications; arrangements for all fire safety requirements; an assessment of the building’s structural integrity; and safe panel placement based on the roof’s capacity or the space available nearby. We can also obtain a building permit for you if required, as well as the licence to connect to the distribution grid.