Rising electricity prices are also reflected in the increased interest of households and companies in photovoltaic power plants, mostly mounted on the roofs of buildings. It is reported by companies offering these devices and by the Ministry of the Environment or ČEZ.
“Compared to last year, we have seen an increase in customer interest of about 100 percent,” said Tibor Jonáš from Envi Energy Czech, which supplies and installs the plants. The customers’ efforts to secure cheaper electricity in the future began last year after the collapse of Bohemia Energy. They were then boosted by the effects of the war in Ukraine.
Similarly, Pavel Vachuška of Solengen reports a great deal of interest. He sees the reasons as similar. “Before 2021, photovoltaics was ashes. There was relatively little interest,” he said, adding that his company focuses more on households. “People over 40 with a university degree tend to order PV,” he said.
“Compared to last year, we have seen an eightfold increase in inquiries and contracts,” said Pavel Matějovič of Schlieger. He, too, sees it across all segments. “At the moment, demand is also starting to pick up in apartment buildings,” he said.
ČEZ also reports a threefold increase in demand for photovoltaics compared to last year, especially among companies and municipalities. The Ministry of the Environment approved subsidies for projects from the Modernisation Fund, a large part of which concerns the construction of smaller photovoltaic power plants worth more than CZK 2.2 billion.
“Support for photovoltaic power plants continues, this time for smaller ones up to one MW,” the ministry’s press department said.
The suppliers contacted then unanimously claim that, given the electricity prices, it pays off for almost everyone, even if they still have prices fixed favorably. “But we don’t recommend it for old roofs that are about to fall off, for example,” says Jonah.
Several years of payback
Vachuška and Matějovič note that the size of the roof where the power plant is to be installed is crucial for sufficient power. If it is too small, the savings may be less. “The customer should also have consumption evenly distributed throughout the year, or consume more in the summer,” Vachuška said.
It depends on the calculations, with paybacks usually estimated at five to seven years. However, these are still estimates from when electricity prices were not rising sharply.