Biogas stations fastest growing renewable energy source in 2011

Biogas stations were developing at the fastest pace from all domestic renewable energy sources last year and their installed output for which the Energy Regulatory Office (ERU) issued licences rose by 63 megawatts in the year - to 168 megawatts, according to ERU data.

On the other hand, the output of solar power plants increased by only 6 megawatts to 1,959 megawatts.

Installed output of solar power plants in 2010 more than quadrupled to 1,953 megawatts. The state then toughened conditions for investors into photovoltaic plants, which slowed down their development last year.

Only 158 photovoltaic power plants were built last year, while in 2010, nearly 7,000 new photovoltaic sources were built.

High subsidies pulled the growth by biogas stations last year when their number rose by 84 to 264. The government began to fear that there could be the same problem like by the solar power plants whose development has caused higher energy prices.

The Agriculture Ministry and Industry and Trade Ministry therefore abolished programmes of subsidies for biogas stations last year. Under new minister Petr Bendl, the Agriculture Ministry renewed the subsidies in November.

Installed output of wind power plants also grew very slowly last year - by 3 megawatts to 218 megawatts. The situation was similar by small hydroelectric plants whose installed output increased by only 1.5 megawatts to 142 megawatts last year.

ERU expects the output of solar power plants to grow only moderately in the coming years. Power distributing companies recently allowed again connection of new solar panels on the roofs of buildings.

Grid operator CEPS said that solar power plants and wind farms with total output of 65 megawatts could be safely connected to the grid this year.

According to the National Action Plan for renewable sources, these "green energy producers" are to cover 13.5 percent of total energy consumption in 2020. The plan sets limits on the individual kinds of renewable energy sources.

However, by photovoltaic power plants the limit has already been reached and so the Industry and Trade Ministry prepares to redraw the action plan.

Data on the share of renewable energy sources in total energy consumption for last year are not yet available. Their share in 2010 stood at roughly 8.5 percent.

In particular photovoltaic power plants are being criticised for taking up the biggest part of support for renewable energy sources and thus contributing most to the increase in electricity prices.

Of the total annual costs of renewable energy sources worth Kc36bn, more than Kc22bn goes to photovoltaic plants. The state provides a subsidy worth less than Kc12bn to prevent even higher electricity prices.

Over 60 percent of the contribution to renewable energy sources is for solar power plants, according to ERU data. However, solar power plants have only a 11.5 percent share in electricity produced by renewable sources.