Czech Republic-based utility CEZ has revealed plans to triple the electricity that the company produces from renewable sources by 2020. The utility's action plan is aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 15%, as well as at helping to reach the national goal to reduce energy intensity by 23TWh per annum.

CEZ said that it hopes the energy it produces from renewable sources will reach 5.1TWh by 2020, which is three times more than the 1.7TWh that the group produced from such sources in 2005. CEZ also aims to investment in foreign projects that will lead to savings of no less than 30 million tons of CO2. The group expects these planned measures will cost over CZK17 billion.

CEZ commented that, in the area of renewable energy, the company will focus on using wind and biomass. In its wind power plants, CEZ is planning to reach total installed capacity of 100MW by 2012 and 500MW by 2020. The group said that overall costs for this expansion would amount to CZK20 billion.

The group’s action plan also states that, as well as introducing biomass combustion in its present coal-fired power plants, CEZ will build a new plant for the combustion of fine biomass with a capacity of 5MW in Hodonin. The group also hopes to reconstruct part of its Dvur Kralove thermal power station so that it too can burn fine biomass.

CEZ also intends to increase the efficiency of its small and large hydro power plants by an average of 5% and 3%, respectively, by 2020. The company expects the small plant work to cost CZK300 million and the large plant work to cost CZK100 million.

Martin Roman, chairman of the board of directors and CEO of CEZ, said: The plan of action and its ambitious goals in the area of abatement of emissions are a clear statement of our positive relation to the environment protection and sustainable growth.

Alan Svoboda, chief sales officer responsible for environmental agenda of CEZ, added: Our priority will be energy saving projects, changes of fuel and development of renewable energy resources. By 2012 CEZ Group plans to invest [in] from five to 20 projects with yearly savings of 600 thousand tons of CO2.