The Czech Republic’s lower house of parliament has approved the amendments on the bill that regulates the country energy transition to a low-carbon economy and that should enter into force on 1 January 2022. The Act also gives a lot of space to nuclear energy which is considered not only a low-carbon source but also a stable supply of electricity.
“The adoption of the law is another step towards building new nuclear sources and a prerequisite for ensuring decarbonisation, energy security and a higher share of emission-free sources while creating the basis for affordable nuclear electricity,” said Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Industry and Trade Karel Havlíček.
“Currently there are de facto no market incentives for investment in new nuclear or other emission-free energy sources and these market failures have been confirmed by the European Commission itself,” added Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Tomáš Ehler. “The new law helps to address this situation and reflects the recommendations of international organisations such as the OECD or the International Atomic Energy Agency.” “
Indeed, as underlined in the latest report by the International Energy Agency (IEA), nuclear plays an important role in the Czech Republic, accounting for 19.5 per cent of the total energy supply (TES) and 37.5 per cent of electricity generation in 2020. Furthermore, recent findings from the Coal Commission, which recommends that the country phase out coal for electricity and heating at the latest by 2038, further strengthens the policy objectives for nuclear.
