Country Overview
The land-locked, European country of the Czech Republic (Czechia) is bordered by Austria, Germany, Poland, and Slovakia. The population of Czechia is approximately 10.50 million people.
In 2022, Czechia’s economy was ranked 46th in the world in gross domestic product (GDP). The country’s economy is dependent on the export of cars, motor vehicle parts, computers, broadcasting equipment, office machine parts, and non-optical microscopes.
Environmental Policies
In 2009, Czechia as a member of the European Union (EU) committed to the “Renewable Energy Directive,” which requires each country to use renewable energy for 27% of its total energy needs by 2030.
In 2016, Czechia as a member of the EU signed the “Paris Climate Agreement”. The EU committed to a 40% reduction in greenhouse gas emission by 2030 compared to 1990 levels.
Power Generation Capabilities
In 2021, 100 % of the people in Czechia had access to electricity. In 2022, power companies used coal (43.4 %), nuclear power (36.4 %), renewable energy (12.4 %), and natural gas (7.8 %) to generate electricity in Czechia. Biomass, solar, hydropower are the primary types of renewable energy used to generate electricity in Czechia.
Recent renewable energy projects in Czechia include:
- 5 MW Biomass Project – In 2013, Swiss company, Alpiq Generation commissioned the Kladno biomass power plant at a site approximately 15 miles southeast of the nation’s capital, Prague.
- 3 MW Solar Project – In 2021, Czechia utility, CEZ commissioned a solar project at a site approximately 50 miles south of Prague.
Conclusions
In 2021, Czechia imported 87% of its natural gas and 50% of its oil from Russia. In 2021, Czechia imported U.S. $3.01 Billion of natural gas and U.S. $1.75 Billion of crude oil from Russia.
On 24 February 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine, prompting the European Union, United Kingdom, United States, Canada, Japan, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand to place economic sanctions on Russian imports and exports. As a result, the crude oil and natural gas prices increased by over 50% from May 2021 to May 2022.
Czechia has significant undeveloped renewable energy resources including biomass, solar, hydropower, and wind. Volatile natural gas and crude oil prices have prompted the Czechian government to accelerate renewable energy project development.
Jack Kerfoot
Website – “Our Energy Conundrum”
www.jackkerfoot.com
Jack Kerfoot is a scientist, energy expert, and author of the book FUELING AMERICA, An Insider’s Journey and articles for The Hill, one of the largest independent political news sites in the United States. He has been interviewed on over 100 radio and television stations from New York City to Los Angeles on numerous energy related topics.