In the heart of Central and Eastern Europe, two countries, the Czech Republic and Poland, are grappling with the challenges and opportunities presented by the rapid development of photovoltaics. As the world shifts towards renewable energy sources, these nations are at a critical juncture, balancing the need for environmental sustainability with the economic realities of transitioning away from coal.
Maciej Dzikuć, a researcher from the Faculty of Legal and Economic Sciences at the University of Zielona Góra, has delved into the complexities of this transition in a recent study published in ‘Energies’. The research, which focuses on the regulatory changes and their impact on photovoltaic development, reveals a landscape marked by both spectacular growth and significant hurdles.
The Czech Republic and Poland have seen periods of dynamic growth in photovoltaic installations, driven by favorable legal regulations and financial incentives. However, these gains have often been followed by stagnation or even setbacks. “The dynamic development of photovoltaics in the Czech Republic resulted mainly from imperfect legislation,” Dzikuć explains. “The legal solutions did not include a maximum limit for supported photovoltaic installations, and the Energy Regulatory Office could not reduce feed-in rates by more than 5% year-on-year, even though the actual decrease in investment costs in photovoltaic installations was much greater.”
This regulatory rollercoaster has led to periods of explosive growth followed by abrupt halts. In the Czech Republic, for instance, the implementation of new regulations in 2011 effectively halted the momentum of photovoltaic development. Similarly, Poland’s dynamic growth from 2019 to 2022 has slowed significantly since April 2022 due to changes in legal frameworks and financial incentives.
The study highlights the need for stable regulatory environments and financial incentives to support the long-term development of photovoltaics. Dzikuć emphasizes the importance of energy storage solutions, which can help manage the intermittent nature of solar power and prevent grid overloads. “One of the solutions that would help reduce the problem of excessive amounts of energy, which would relieve the network, is the implementation of home energy storage,” he notes. “However, this is a relatively costly solution and would require state support at this stage.”
The research also points to the broader implications of these developments for the energy sector. As coal-fired power plants remain a significant part of the energy mix in both countries, the high costs of CO2 emissions are driving the need for a faster transition to renewable energy sources. The study suggests that new institutional and legal solutions are necessary to link the development of photovoltaics with the reduction of energy poverty, ensuring that households benefit from lower energy costs.
The findings of Dzikuć’s research published in ‘Energies’ offer a roadmap for policymakers and energy sector stakeholders. By addressing the regulatory and financial barriers, and investing in energy storage solutions, the Czech Republic and Poland can achieve a more stable and sustainable development of photovoltaics. This transition is not just about environmental sustainability; it’s about economic viability and energy security for future generations.
