Prague must reduce its dependence on Russian gas
Reducing energy dependence on oil and gas supplies from Russia is becoming a security necessity and a political priority for the capital.
The price of natural gas rose in the last year before the outbreak of war in Ukraine by 170% and it is necessary to take into account the scenario where the availability of natural gas in Europe will be significantly reduced in the near future and the price of imported liquefied gas will continue to rise dramatically. The capital city of Prague therefore wants to accelerate the city’s main energy self-sufficiency projects.
In Prague, natural gas is used mainly for heating. It consumes approximately one hundred and eighty thousand households and tens of thousands of other customers from institutions and companies. The capital itself consumes about one tenth of the total natural gas consumption in the Czech Republic for heating buildings. The capital city of Prague wants this level of dependence, especially on Russian gas, in the coming period by adopting a number of specific measures, some of which are already in the preparatory or even implementation phase.
“Increasing energy security by emphasizing energy self-sufficiency is becoming an absolute political priority for us in the light of Russia’s actions in Ukraine. That is why I commissioned a working group on climate change to prepare update of the Climate Plan of the Capital m of Prague by 2030 in order to assess how to further reduce the future role of natural gas in meeting energy needs hl. and its inhabitants in order to reduce the dependence of the capital Prague on the supply of Russian natural gas, “Says Deputy Mayor Petr Hlubuček / STAN /. “I would like to submit this update to the City Council by the beginning of the summer. and subsequently ZHMP. It is not just about energy security, but also ensuring a sustainable energy price for the people of Prague,“Adds Petr Hlubuček, Deputy Mayor for the Environment, Infrastructure and Security / STAN /.
Among the planned measures is, for example, the requirement that developers design new housing and commercial projects in the city so that heating was provided by emission-free heat sources based on renewable energy sources. For existing buildings using a gas heat source, the city is preparing the steps it wants motivate owners to switch to another source of support from the subsidy program HMP Čistá energie Praha, which is designed for apartment buildings, family houses and apartments. The capital is also planning termination of investment support for the installation of natural gas boilers and transfer of this investment support to renewable sourcesspecifically heat pumps, photovoltaic and photothermal systems.
A separate chapter in reducing dependence on natural gas is district heating in Prague households, where some district heating systems use natural gas. “We want to install efficient alternative sources as a substitute for natural gas in these systems. The first concrete step is to start preparations for the construction of ENERGOCENTER, using wastewater from the Central Wastewater Treatment Plant in Bubeneč. With the help of a series of large-capacity heat pumps, the Energy Center will first obtain thermal energy for the supply of the neighboring localities of Dejvice and Veleslavín in the second stage to the locality of Holešovice and to the development area of Bubny-Zátory, “ explains Deputy Hlubuček / STAN /.
Energocentrum will be the largest heat and cold production plant in the Czech Republic based on heat pumps. Heat supplies from large-capacity heat pumps are planned within a few years and the heat pumps themselves are powered by electricity from renewable sources.
The capital also wants to obtain its own gas resources, which will increase Prague’s energy self-sufficiency. “We have already pushed for the creation of a Central Wastewater Treatment Plant biomethane productionthe first phase will be operational this year and, if it proves to be cost-effective, its capacity may increase several times over time, “ says Petr Hlubuček / STAN /. “We want the second own source of ecological biomethane own biogas plant for the processing of sorted bio-components of municipal waste, which could be put into operation around 2025, ”Adds Deputy Hlubuček. Other measures include reducing the energy intensity of buildings and reducing the energy losses of city buildings.
source: press release