The Czech Republic achieved 1000 MW installed capacity in solar energy last year. Output from its new photovoltaic plants was the third highest in the EU according to statistics made public by the European PhotoVoltaic Industry Association. The same figures show the Czech Republic fourth in Europe in total installed capacity of solar power. Energy Regulatory Office (ERU) data show that photovoltaic plants with total output at 1820 MW were connected to the grid and received a licence during the year.
Only Italy and Germany (7 GW) are now ahead of the Czech Republic in PV. The league of total installed capacity is topped by Germany with over 16000 MW, followed by Italy and Spain.
The news is not all good, howvever. The EPIA expects that for the Czech Republic this growth rate will slow dramatically because the government has cut support to investors in the construction of new solar power plants.
The use of solar energy in the rest of Europe will keep growing irrespective of developments in the Czech Republic. Investors installed solar power plants with total output at 13 000 MW in the EU last year and their total output is now at 28 000 MW. The EU is a clear global leader in the use of solar energy. In the Czech Republic alone, the output of photovoltaic plants built last year was higher than in Japan or the USA.
