Five new wind turbines commissioned in Czechia last year, likely none this year

Five new wind turbines with a combined capacity of more than 13 megawatts (MW) were commissioned in Czechia last year. This is a similar figure to the previous year. No wind turbine is likely to be added this year. Štěpán Chalupa, chairman of the Chamber of Renewable Energy Sources, said this at a press conference today. Czechia has long lagged behind Europe in the use of wind energy, with wind accounting for around one percent of generation.

More than 200 wind turbines are now in operation in Czechia, with a combined installed capacity of more than 371.5 MW.

New wind turbines were installed at three locations last year. Three projects with a combined capacity of 6.6 MW were commissioned in Maletín in the Olomouc Region. Another new wind turbine, with a capacity of 4.2 MW, was opened in Hať in the Moravian-Silesian Region, while a 2.3 MW turbine was commissioned in Vrbice in the Karlovy Vary Region.

According to the chamber, most of the wind turbines commissioned last year were opened largely as an administrative matter, as they had already been built earlier, but all conditions for their commissioning were only definitively met last year. Chalupa noted that permitting processes can sometimes take up to two years after the facilities are completed. In his view, new legislation aimed at speeding up construction permitting could help.

According to the chamber, last year saw the highest number to date of referendums on new wind power projects in the country. The results of 24 public votes showed an even split between approvals and rejections. Despite a significant increase in positive decisions compared with previous years, Chalupa said society remains highly polarised over the construction of wind facilities, and referendum results are mostly close.

Although the number of projects in preparation is growing, according to the chamber, construction of no new wind turbine is likely to begin this year. Chalupa said that faster development of wind energy will require further efforts to speed up permitting processes and the subsequent work of authorities. The sector also needs to strengthen public awareness of how wind turbines work, he said. Further political support will also be needed, according to Chalupa.

Despite last year's increase in the number of facilities, wind energy in the Czech Republic continues to lag behind in the long term. Its share of domestic generation has long stagnated at around one percent. The EU average, meanwhile, was nearly 17 percent last year. According to WindEurope statistics, Denmark has the largest share of wind electricity in its energy mix in Europe, with wind turbines providing more than half of its electricity.