WSHPDR_2013_Final_Report-updated_version

4.1.3 Czech Republic
European Small Hydropower Association, Stream Map
SHP installed
capacity
297 MW
Key facts
Population 10,177,300 1
Area 78,867 km 2
Climate
Topography
Rain
pattern
Temperate; cool summers; cold, cloudy,
humid winters
Bohemia in the west consists of rolling
plains, hills, and plateaus surrounded by
low mountains; Moravia in the east has
very hilly landscape
Most rain falls during the summer. The
average precipitation is 680 mm. 2
Electricity sector overview
The gross electricity production in the Czech Republic
was 87,560 GWh in 2011 with one third of it coming
from nuclear sources (figure 1). 3 A 2011’s national
energy policy draft states that there will be a major
increase of nuclear power generation until 2060, to 13.9
GW or up to 18.9 GW in the case of major adoption of
electric vehicles, with nuclear producing 60 per cent of
SHP potential
0 150 300 450
465 MW
Figure 2 Small hydropower capacities in Czech Republic
Source: Stream Map 5
In 2008, the total economically feasible small
hydropower potential was calculated at 465 MW, which
means the remaining economically feasible potential
was 168 MW, not including the 43 MW planned small
hydropower plants. 6
Renewable energy policy
According to the National Renewable Energy Action Plan
(NREAP), the renewable energy target by 2020 is 13.5
per cent of country’s energy consumption,. 7
Legislation on small hydropower
Support mechanisms for small hydropower in the Czech
Republic reflect some economic aspects of the small
hydro investment process and its significance for the
grid.
57.10%
Wind 0.50%
Photovoltaic 2.40%
Hydropow er 3.20%
Combined Cycle and Gas Fired 4.50%
Nuclear
32.30%
Thermal
the country's power. 4
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70%
Figure 1 Electricity generation in Czech Republic
Source: Energetický regulační úřad 3
Small hydropower sector overview and potential
The Czech Republic has already developed a major part
of its small hydro potential. Nevertheless, systematic
growth in installed capacity of 2.5 MW/year was
observed in the last 10 years. In 2010, the Czech
Republic had 1,452 small hydropower plants and a total
installed capacity of 297 MW, generating 1,159 GWh per
year (figure 2). 5
Even faster growth (up to 372 MW in 2020) can be
expected in this decade according to its National
Renewable Energy Action Plan (NREAP). While this
prediction may be considered fairly optimistic, the
NREAP electricity generation estimation is rather
conservative. By 2020, the aim is to have 1,645 plants
with a total installed capacity of 340 MW (1,210 GWh).
There is an opt-in guaranteed tariff or green bonus
scheme that depends on the time period since
commissioning. According to the Act on Promotion of
Electricity Production from Renewable Energy Sources,
the electricity prices should aid in achieving a 15-year
period of recovery of investment. In practice, the
guaranteed tariffs range between 7.4 and 12 euro
cents/kWh for run-of-river plants and between 5.7 and
15 euro cents/kWh for storage plants (with substantial
differences between the peak and off-peak operation);
respective values for green bonuses are 3.6 and 8 euro
cents/kWh for run-of-river plants and between 2.6 and
9.6 euro cents/kWh for storage plants. 5
The tariff is announced on an annual basis by the Energy
Regulatory Office. Small hydropower plant operators
that intend to offer electricity for purchase to the grid
should notify the relevant grid operator in advance.
Electricity supply to the grid takes place according to a
contract agreed between small hydropower plant
operators and local grid operators. The regulatory role
of small storage hydropower plants is acknowledged by
differentiated energy prices in the grid load-peak and
off-peak zones.
When setting the residual flow for small hydropower
plants, minimum mean flow and hydro-biological
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