CEZ, a.s. (CEZ) has increased its biomass power production by a third to 327 gigawatt hour in the Czech Republic during 2008. CEZ used 347,000 tonnes of biomass in 2008, 50% more than in 2007, with all sources burning biomass together with brown coal. The amount of power generated would cover the annual consumption of over 93,000 households. CEZ intends to invest CZK30 billion for expansion of green energy facilities in the next 15 years.
Out of CZK30 billion two-thirds of the amount will be used for the construction of wind power plants, the rest will be spent on building and upgrading hydroelectric power plants and facilities burning biomass.
Czech Republic’s action plan for biomass in from 2009 to 2011, adopted by the government, intends to raise the use of biomass for electricity production so that the country fulfils the pledge to almost double the share of electricity produced from renewable sources in gross domestic power consumption by the year 2010. In 2008, it was around 4%.
CEZ generates two-thirds of power produced in the country from renewable sources. The company also runs biomass facilities in Poland.