8. 1. 2025
In 2024, significant strides were made in the Czech Republic's community energy sector. The amendment to the Energy Act, known as "Lex RES II," was recognized as the law of the year. The largest conference on community energy in Europe was held, and the first practical experiences of emerging energy community projects were shared. Electricity sharing finally took off, with 750 MWh of electricity shared among individuals in the first 100 days. This article summarizes the key achievements of the past year and offers concrete tips on how you can get involved in electricity sharing and establish your own energy community.
"In 2024, we successfully overcame several challenges with our members. We organized the largest conference on community energy in Europe, advocated for the prompt initiation of electricity sharing, and highlighted the obstacles faced by those interested in sharing. A big thank you goes to our members who willingly shared their practical insights and expertise," said David Blažek, UKEN's head coordinator.
We provide answers in our guide titled "How to Start Sharing Electricity," created for all interested in electricity sharing. The guide addresses key questions such as:
It is available only in Czech, download here.
In May, in collaboration with REScoop.eu, we organized the largest conference on community energy in Europe in Prague. It brought together 150 representatives of energy communities to share experiences and inspire each other. The conference featured then-Minister of Industry and Trade Jozef Síkela, who now serves as the European Commissioner for International Partnerships.
Workshops and lectures covered a wide range of topics crucial to community energy. Discussions included European and national legislation, best practices in establishing energy communities, and various methods of combining renewable energy sources. Special attention was given to electricity and heat sharing, as well as effective communication of project intentions with local residents and their involvement in projects.
In collaboration with our members, who provided valuable practical insights, we reviewed key implementing regulations necessary for the practical functioning of electricity sharing.
For community energy, the most important was the Decree on Electricity Market Rules (No. 408/2015 Coll.), which regulates the allocation of electricity (so-called allocation keys) or sharing groups. Details can be found in the article "The Most Important Decree on Electricity Sharing is Done; the EDC Remains to be Launched."
Other important decrees and their provisions:
In April 2024, the amendment to the Energy Act on community energy (Lex RES II) was recognized as the law of the year 2023. Soon after, another amendment followed, known as Lex RES III, which introduces electricity storage and flexibility aggregation in the Czech Republic. In addition to Lex RES III, it addresses new needs and challenges in community energy:
The amendment is currently awaiting discussion in the Senate, which is expected to take place soon. More information can be found in the article "Prohibition of Discrimination Against Sharers and New Activities for Communities; MPs Approved Lex RES III."
"Suppliers may no longer condition the conclusion of a purchase agreement on the prohibition or restriction of the right to share electricity. Price lists for sharing and non-sharing customers may differ only in cases where the supplier demonstrates that there is a fair reason for different prices in certain cases. The practical interpretation of this provision will be ensured by the Energy Regulatory Office (ERO)," said Eliška Beranová, lawyer at Frank Bold and head of UKEN's legislative working group.
The Electricity Data Center (EDC) is a key tool for electricity sharing. Since its launch on August 1, 2024, it enables data exchange between distribution system operators and thus the evaluation of sharing. UKEN members were among the first to test the new system.
"All well-informed individuals, mayors, or UKEN members are familiar with the EDC and are pleasantly surprised by it. However, ordinary mortals find it difficult to navigate," evaluated Michal Svoboda, who assists with registrations in the Šluknov region.
Martin Krupa, whose company ECM System Solutions focuses on the development and delivery of energy management software, has specific recommendations for future system updates. He would focus mainly on "adding the option to log in via bank identity or citizen identity, enabling two-way communication via API, and, of course, more efficient methods of electricity sharing."
Just before the holidays, we visited three places with journalists where community energy is taken seriously. The municipalities of Zbůch, Modlany, and the Šluknov region demonstrate how our members are bringing electricity sharing from legal texts into practice and improving the lives of local people.
How Zbůch is establishing an energy community, where Modlany has invisible solar panels, and why collecting data and planning is important in energy can be read in the article.
Also, watch videos where the main actors present their respective projects (videos have english subtitles):
In November, thanks to the Ministry of the Environment, the Platform for Establishing Energy Communities was created and met for the first time. Together with the National Center for the Support of Energy Communities (NCPEK), we are its professional guarantors. Currently, the Platform focuses on supporting projects that succeeded in call no. 7/2023 for the Establishment of Energy Communities. However, its outputs will contribute to the widespread development of energy communities, and some activities will gradually be made available to the general public.
"We are pleased that the Union of Community Energy can participate in the Platform for Establishing Energy Communities as a professional guarantor. We appreciate that the Ministry of the Environment has endorsed the creation of the Platform and supports its activities. We want the Platform's meetings to be purposeful and to assist in establishing energy communities so that community energy continues to develop successfully in the Czech Republic," says Áron Tkadleček, head of UKEN's project working group and an expert on renewable energy and community energy at Hnutí DUHA.
According to EDC data, 750 MWh of electricity were shared in the first 100 days, and as of the end of November, 6,098 production and 8,278 consumption points were participating in sharing. Most sharing currently occurs in the active customer mode, but the first energy communities are already emerging; their list can be found in the publicly available register of the Energy Regulatory Office.
In 2024, we delivered more than 50 lectures and training sessions on community energy. Especially noteworthy are the trainings we organized with ACCON for towns and municipalities, and the lectures for mayors under the auspices of Regionservis.
Our guide How to Start Sharing Electricity was downloaded by over 1,500 individuals, and nearly 5,000 subscribers now receive our newsletter.
By the end of 2024, our membership base had grown to 103 members. Throughout the year, we welcomed valuable new members and experts from both companies and small or large municipalities who care about the future of their communities and residents. The full list of members is available on our website.
Electricity sharing had a strong year, marking a true step forward in realizing the potential of community energy—which could cover nearly 80% of Czech household electricity consumption. That’s why we’re entering 2025 with renewed determination to build a clean and secure future for Czech energy.
We thank all our members for their cooperation and the exceptional effort they invest in creating functioning projects. We also extend our thanks to our 2024 partners, namely Česká spořitelna, Domům sobě, and ECM System Solutions.
Anna Michalčáková
+420 605 038 162
anna.michalcakova@uken.cz
