The Czech Republic witnessed a remarkable surge in new solar installations last year, with 82,799 new solar sources becoming operational, representing a substantial increase of 49,039 installations compared to the previous year. This surge in solar capacity amounted to an impressive rise of 970 megawatts (MW). The majority of these installations found their place on residential buildings, accounting for around 80,000 solar power plants and a total capacity of 823 MW. Despite this significant growth, the prevalence of large solar parks remains relatively limited. The Solar Association, presenting these findings, underscores that the Czech Republic, despite the growth, still trails behind neighboring countries.

At present, more than 167,000 photovoltaic power plants are interconnected in the Czech Republic. The Ministry of Industry and Trade reports that 116,000 installations have been added in the last two years alone. Radim Černý, a member of the Board of Directors of the Czech Association of Regulated Electrotechnical Companies (ČSRES), notes that nearly half of all photovoltaic power plants connected last year are visible on the roofs of family houses across the country. Additionally, corporate installations have strengthened in this segment.

Despite the record-breaking increase in power plants, the Czech Republic lags behind its neighbors in solar capacity. For instance, Poland installed power plants with a capacity exceeding 4.5 gigawatts (GW) last year, more than double the capacity in Austria, and over half compared to Hungary. The leaders in Europe, in terms of solar capacity, are the Netherlands and Germany.

Data from the Energy Regulatory Office reveals that the installed capacity of solar sources in the Czech Republic still falls behind that of coal and nuclear power plants. The development of large solar parks is progressing slowly, with a few constructed last year, but additional installations have been put on hold.

Looking ahead, Jan Krčmář, Executive Director of the Solar Association, suggests that agro-photovoltaics, involving the integration of photovoltaic panels in orchards, hop fields, or vineyards, could enhance the situation. However, legislative conditions need to be established for this to unfold. Despite increased competitiveness in the market, resulting in shorter waiting times for installations, challenges persist, particularly for more substantial power plants.

Article by Prague Forum