In recent years, the Czech Republic has experienced an unprecedented boom in the installation of photovoltaic power plants (PV plants). This trend is understandable – renewable energy sources, and solar technologies in particular, offer a unique opportunity for a sustainable and economically viable solution to energy needs. However, as the number of PV installations increases, new challenges are beginning to emerge, including in particular problems with the efficient application of the electricity generated, which fundamentally undermines the economics of these projects.
One of the main benefits of PV is the ability to provide a fixed and relatively low cost portion of the energy supply. This advantage is that the major variable influencing the price of PV energy is the investment cost. Once a plant is built and commissioned, the cost of electricity production is essentially fixed, allowing costs to be predicted for a long time ahead. This stability is particularly advantageous at a time when energy market prices are becoming increasingly unpredictable and exposed to geopolitical and economic factors.
Surplus energy forces production curtailment
However, for consumers who already have PV or are planning to purchase PV and whose electricity consumption does not replicate the PV generation profile, it is essential to keep in mind that the price per unit of energy they will have to purchase outside the PV generation profile will be significantly higher in the future. “Conversely, the sale of surplus electricity from PV is often accompanied by negative prices, forcing PV operators to curtail production or incur economic losses and not reach the potential of the installed technology. This has been demonstrated for a long time in Western countries and in recent months also in the Czech Republic,” says Jan Hanus, CEO of ORGREZ ECO. In view of this fact, it is important for consumers who have already invested in PV plants to consider how to best optimize the use of the energy they produce. to optimise the use of their generated energy. It is important to bear in mind that storage in battery systems is one of the most expensive options.
The solution is electrification of heat production
One of the promising options for increasing the efficiency and use of the energy produced is the electrification of heat production and the heating industry in general. In this context, the difficult to apply PV power can be efficiently used for heat production, using an electric boiler or heat pump. The heat can then be cheaply stored in hot water. In practice, it is not always possible to find sufficient heat input for the surplus PV power on-site. “We find the solution in the use of long-term power purchase agreements (PPA contracts), which ensure a stable supply of produced energy at agreed prices, e.g. With an already electrified heating plant. The latter will thus obtain a long-term predictable price for part of the heat production. At the same time, the PV operator is able to use the maximum energy produced, which has a positive impact on both the economy and the ecology,” explains Jan Hanus.
ORGREZ ECO, a member of the ORGREZ Technology Group and a long-standing leader in energy solutions, offers a wide range of consulting services focused on optimizing the use of renewable energy sources. “For the heating industry, which is facing the challenge of switching to green energy and the threat of impending payments for emission allowances even for sources up to 20 MW, we have developed the Green Heating solution,” Jan Hanus introduces the service. This programme promotes the integration of renewable energy sources into district heating systems, thereby also enabling the efficient use of the solar energy produced for heating purposes and reducing dependence on fossil fuels and therefore emissions allowance payments.
For more information on this innovative solution, please visit www.zeleneteplarenstvi.cz.