The Eastern Bohemia Energy Community will begin sharing electricity in March
The Eastern Bohemia Energy Community (ESVČ), founded this year by the Pardubice Region, the city of Pardubice, and Energeticko-vodárenský inovační klastr z.s. (EWIC), will begin sharing surplus electricity generated from renewable sources at the end of the first quarter of next year. According to estimates, this will result in the use of approximately 865 megawatt hours in 2026, and approximately double that amount a year later, ESVČ committee chairman Milan Turena told ČTK. The installed capacity of the connected photovoltaic sources in particular will gradually increase.
"It is an open platform, so we expect that the rollout will show a significant upward trend. We anticipate that we will be fully operational by 2028, enabling us to connect the general public, whether business or public sources and consumers," said Turena.
In addition to organizations established by the Pardubice Region and the city of Pardubice, other important members of the community include hospitals in Pardubice, Chrudim, and Vysoké Mýto, the Rokytno farm, the Pardubice Swimming Complex, and the Social Services of the City of Pardubice. In total, there are about 20 members involved in the community.
The vast majority of the sources are photovoltaic power plants on the roofs of buildings. For example, schools, which are closed in the summer, generate large surpluses of electricity from spring to autumn, which can be consumed by other members of the community. ESVČ is also negotiating with other large producers, such as owners of cogeneration biogas stations. In 2027, a private ground-mounted photovoltaic power plant with a capacity of one megawatt could be connected. Small hydroelectric power plants in some regional secondary schools could also be connected. In the future, operators of large-capacity electricity storage facilities could also cooperate with the community.
According to Turena, sharing should ensure increased energy security and price stability for participants. Prices will be at least one-fifth lower than before, but may be even more advantageous. Consumption savings could be 20 to 30 percent per year.
"We need to effectively consume the surpluses we have, especially in schools, in public administration," František Brendl (3PK), regional representative and chairman of the committee for energy, information technology, e-government, and digitization, who is also a councilor for Pardubice for the Společně pro Pardubice association, told ČTK.
The most advanced in electricity sharing in the Pardubice region is the city of Chrudim. It saves an estimated several million crowns annually on energy payments.