Czechia

Assessment of obstacles and potential for development of ECs

Not addressed in the transposition.

Removal of unjustified regulatory & administrative barriers

Not addressed in the transposition.

DSO duties around cooperation with ECs and facilitation of energy sharing

The law allows energy communities to engage in energy sharing, though several restrictions are imposed. More specifically, the law states that in the period until 30 June 2026, the sharing group between transfer points in the community may include no more than 1,000 registration numbers of transfer points, consumption points or electricity production plants, in the contiguous territory of the administrative districts of no more than 3 municipalities with extended jurisdiction or in the territory of the capital city of Prague. Sharing outside of an energy community may be performed only by active customers. They may however only form a sharing group of maximum 11 transfer points/consumption points/production plants. This limitation is not time restricted, so it will be in force even after the 30 June 2026. On the other hand, they are not territorially limited, so they can share across the whole country. In addition, no discount is provided on the distribution fee, the renewables support fee or the electricity tax. Changes to the energy sharing legislation are expected in the summer of 2024.

Fair, proportionate, and transparent registration & licensing procedures

The law sets a specific system for energy communities to register in a public registry operated by the Energy Regulatory Office, therefore helping with transparency. There is no specific procedure for energy communities on the licensing procedures for developing renewable projects.

Incentives connected to network tariffs based on a CBA

Not addressed in the transposition.

Non-discriminatory treatment as market participant

Not addressed in the transposition.

Accessibility to low-income & vulnerable households

Not addressed in the transposition.

Tools to access finance

In the context of the Czech Recovery and Resilience plan, a reform to support community projects is introduced. The programme mentions energy communities as separate targets, establishing ‘energy communities’ involving residential and entrepreneurial sector actively in renewable energy use as well as awareness-raising and training focused on developing community-based energy. This Component will finance a pilot projects for the establishment of 40 energy communities with a total allocation of 4,030,000 EUR.

In the context of the Modernisation fund, the programme KOMUENERG mentions energy communities as separate targets (2.8 % of the total allocation). Energy communities can also participate in HEAT and RES+.

Tools to access information

Not addressed in the transposition.

Regulatory capacity building for public authorities

Not addressed in the transposition.

NECP reporting on enabling frameworks

In the draft NECP there are several references to RECs highlighting their contribution to the social acceptance of renewables, among others. The national administration also reports on the progress with regard to the design of an enabling framework for the development of RECs highlighting more the financing opportunities available for RECs. However, there are still considerable gaps on a complete enabling framework.

Support Scheme adapted for RECs

No specific measures for energy communities are included in the support scheme for renewables.