Favored by lucrative government subsidies, the Czech market of
photovoltaics is in full swing. Investors from around the world have clashed over whether to take advantage of this manna, little concerned about the ecological aspects, reports Mladá Fronta DNES.
A guaranteed investment at 100%, with an annual yield of 15%. A dream? No way! Thanks to these conditions that the Czech market of photovoltaics can attract investors from around the world. "Israel, Germany and the U.S. dominate the market," said Jaromir Rehàk, president of the Czech Photovoltaic Industry Association. French investors, directly supported by its government, is also installed in the Czech market.
Given the proliferation of speculative investments, the Czech government decided to reduce the price at which electricity companies are obliged to purchase energy for individuals and producers - more than double the value of electricity charged to customers. But the amendment that this low slow to be adopted by the Czech solar business remains today one of the most profitable in Europe. And this in spite of taking into account that the photovoltaic panels placed in the country are less efficient than the Spanish or the South of France, because there are fewer days of sunshine. And like France, Germany and Spain will soon have to download the purchase price of
solar electricity, the Czech market should continue to be very advantageous.
"It's the ecology that motivates us, are the numbers"
Czech companies are essentially to ensure the construction of photovoltaic plants. Its leaders are not environmentalists, but financial managers: "I will not pretend that we are guided by ecological interests. We are particularly interested investors and we are just the numbers," admits Ondrej Valnicek, Global Solar society. However, the ecological sensitivity of governments is important for business because it is in itself a guarantee, at least in today's world, that the states will continue to support renewable energy. The photovoltaic business has also become a major provider of jobs in the Czech Republic. Indeed, the country is one of the most important suppliers of solar technology in the world.
Almost 2,000 people work for companies specialized in the production of photovoltaic panels. The research and development sector employs one hundred people and wholesalers of about 400. In total, it is considered that solar energy "employs" more than 4,000 people in the country. Martin is Director of Somar Schoot Solar, the Czech company that leads the photovoltaic sector: "The Spanish market, the second in Europe in terms of importance, has collapsed. The financial crisis put a brake on investment in major projects." But despite this, says it was convinced that the strong growth of solar energy has barely begun: "The European countries all have very ambitious objectives with respect to increasing renewable energy in the overall energy production."
