In many countries, solar energy is enjoying great success – photovoltaic modules are increasingly affordable and available to those interested in producing their own electricity. In the Czech Republic, however, those investing in and building solar power stations must constantly resist efforts by the government to destabilise the business environment, as Martin Sedlák explains. Czech politicians against modern energy sources Support for renewables in the Czech Republic emerged from a law to support renewable energy sources adopted in 2005. The legislation was based on the German model. Those interested in investing in environmentally-friendly energy sources could choose whether to use the support in the form of purchase prices or a green bonus. In the initial years, the greatest interest was in wind and biomass power stations. Advances in the production of silicon photovoltaic panels, however, brought about a surge in interest in 2009 and especially 2010 in installing photovoltaic power stations. Today, installed photovoltaic output has climbed to 2126 MW. Thanks to the support for the development of solar energy, among other measures, the Czech … Continue reading Cloudy skies over Czech photovoltaics