The CEZ production in renewable sources is increasing

Power Company CEZ generated 811 GWh in renewable energy sources in the first half-year, which is 2.7 per cent of its total energy generation (30 647 GWh). Already in the first six months, it is a significantly higher production than the production for the entire last year when it was 616 GWh in these sources, i. e. one per cent of the total energy generation. This increase is based upon the fact that after the destructive floods in the summer in 2002 a number of hydro power plants were still out of order last year. Two power sets that are still out of order at Orlik will be put into operation by the end of this year. A higher biomass burning energy production is another factor that has influenced the increase.

Hydro power plants accounted for over 88 per cent of the energy generation in renewable sources. The above-mentioned amount represents weekly electricity consumption in the whole Czech Republic. Biomass burning accounted for nearly 12% of environmentally friendly electricity generation when 95 GWh (only 8.6 GWh for the whole last year) of electricity were produced this way. The share of this electricity should grow sharply in the following years. This year CEZ will produce 150 GWh by burning biomass, and in five years the amount should reach 450 GWh of energy.

The production of the wind power plants of CEZ and of the photovoltaic power plant (using solar energy) in the Dukovany nuclear power plant estate was inconsiderable compared to the hydro power plants and the use of biomass.

Production and electricity supply from renewable sources (January - June 2004)

	Production
	GWh	%
Total hydro power plants (without pumped-storage)	716	88,3
Out of that with installed capacity of up to 10 MW	33	4,1
Wind power plants	0	0,0
Solar energy power station	0	0,0
Biomass co-burning	95	11,7
Total renewable sources	811	100,0

The support system of the energy generation from renewable sources in the Czech Republic (nor its amount), however, is not established. There is a considerable legislative uncertainty in the biomass co-burning field, where the endeavour of small producers and other biomass users - counter to market laws - leads to the complete exclusion of biomass co-burning. While biomass burning together with coal represents the most effective, the most environmentally friendly, and primarily the most practical way to sustain the fulfilment of the obligation entered by the Czech Republic - to reach the required 8 % share of renewable sources in electricity production by 2010.

Considering the effectiveness of single types of renewable sources, we can say that the energy production from solar and wind energy is unprofitable (CEZ, a. s. built its plants as experimental, in advance of their mass expansion) despite the EnergetickĂ˝ regulacni urad´s (Energy Regulatory Office) price assessment by privileged electricity redemption price. Contrary to that, the present price support provides efficiency to small hydro power plants and biomass co-burning (with limited possible purchase prices of this raw material). That can limit the trend of burning fast growing wood species that are grown for energy purposes.

Ladislav Kriz, Press Officer, CEZ, a. s.

9. 8. 2004