ČR's solar plants have third biggest per-capita output in EU

Prague, Feb 5 (CTK) - The Czech Republic has the third biggest installed output of photovoltaic plants per capita within the European Union (EU), according to statistics of the European Photovoltaic Industry Association (EPIA).

The per-capita output is higher only in Germany and Italy.

However, the Energy Regulatory Office (ERU) has raised suspicion recently that its former employees might have acted illegally in setting the purchasing prices of electricity from photovoltaic plants. According to the ERU, damage may be worth tens of billions of crowns.

At the end of 2011, the total installed output of solar power plants connected to the grid in the Czech Republic amounted to 1,959 MW, or 185.4W per capita.

The biggest number of solar power plants in the Czech Republic is installed in the Jihomoravsky region (southern Moravia). There is a total of 2.2 million solar panels there. According to data from the Aquatest company, their aggregate installed output reaches 447 MW.

The Jihocesky (southern Bohemia) and Stredocesky (central Bohemia) regions have nearly 1.2 million solar panels with total installed output of about 237 MW.

The lowest number of photovoltaic plans can be found in the Karlovarsky region (western Bohemia), where there are 66,000 panels with installed output of 13 MW.

The biggest amount of solar power is generated in the Jihomoravsky region.

The three biggest solar plants are located in Bohemia.

Ralsko RA 1 run by power utility CEZ and located in the district of Ceska Lipa, northern Bohemia, has the the biggest output in the Czech Republic. The complex comprises four power plants with total installed output of 38.3 MW.

The second biggest solar plant in the Czech Republic is located near Nova Ves, central Bohemia. The facility with installed output of 35.1 MW is run by company FVE CZECH NOVUM.

The third biggest solar plant near Sevetin, southern Bohemia, is also run by CEZ and its output reaches 29.9 MW.

There was a boom of solar power plants in the Czech Republic in 2010. However, since January 2011, when 2011, when the state lowered the guaranteed purchasing prices for new large sources markedly (to Kc5,500 per MWh instead of the original Kc12,150), the interest of large investors in building new sources has faded away.

Distributors have to purchase electricity from solar plants for markedly higher prices than they sell it. The difference in prices is reflected in final prices for costumers. At present, people pay Kc583 (without VAT) for renewable sources in the price of each consumed megawatt hour of electricity, compared with Kc419 last year.

In addition, Kc11.7bn will be spend on support of renewable sources from the state budget this year.

Output of photovoltaic power plants in selected EU countries as of the end of 2011:

Country Installed output (in MW) Output per capita (in W)
Belgium 2,018 183.5
Britain 875 13.9
CR 1,959 185.4
France 2,659 40.3
Italy 12,754 212.6
Hungary 4 0.4
Germany 24,78 302.8
Poland 3 0.1
Austria 176 20.9
Greece 631 58.9
Slovakia468 85.1
Spain 4,400 93.6

Source EPIA