The CHP unit will have a 9-cylinder engine with an electrical output of 5.1 MW and a thermal output of 5.2 MW burning natural gas. It will be delivered to the Písek heating plant by the Czech company GENTEC CHP. This is the first unit of this size to be delivered to a Czech heating plant and is one of the largest investment projects for Teplarna Písek. The installed unit will enable combined heat and power production with an overall efficiency of over 96% and a reduction in CO₂ emissions of up to 30% compared to today's coal-fired source. It will be housed in a new reinforced concrete hall, which will be complemented by storage tanks with a capacity of at least 60 MWh, and the project foresees a future expansion with a second identical unit.
With this move, Teplárna Písek will not only stabilise the price of heat for households, but also increase its independence from fossil fuels and prepare for the involvement in the power balance services (PBS). The KGJ will be deployed especially in times of higher electricity prices and may contribute to the development of community energy in Písek in the future.
Lukáš Vlček, Minister of Industry and Trade
Today, electricity and heat production account for a third of total emissions in the Czech Republic and heating plants themselves, especially coal-fired ones, account for a quarter of these emissions. At the Ministry of Industry and Trade, we are therefore changing legislation and significantly supporting the transition of heat supply systems to other types of fuel, such as natural gas and renewable gases, such as biomethane, or multi-fuel systems. These will also use waste and create the conditions for the efficient use of waste heat in these systems at regional and local level. In addition, large heat pumps also have great potential in decarbonising the heating sector.
In the HEAT programme, we have already launched five calls with a total allocation of CZK 90 billion for heating plants that will switch from coal to greener sources. Last year, we knocked out and announced auctions for operating support for electricity from high-efficiency combined heat and power (CHP) and we are continuing this this year with a total installed capacity of 3,080 MWe. We have allocated 1.7 billion in the National Renewal Plan to renew and improve the efficiency of the heating network, and we have over 30 projects in the pipeline, totalling 4 billion crowns, to be completed by mid-2026.
Andrea Žáková, Director of Teplárny Písek, a.s.
The construction of the cogeneration unit is one of the largest and most important investment projects that we have implemented in the heating plant in recent years. The project is co-financed by the State Environmental Fund of the Czech Republic under the EU Modernisation Fund programme.
It is a key part of our plan to get rid of our dependence on coal. We have already successfully implemented a number of technological and operational changes - from the first experiments with biomass co-firing, through the construction of a biomass boiler and the gasification of part of the plant, to the current installation of a highly efficient CHP unit.
This will enable us to significantly improve the efficiency of electricity production, help us stabilise heat prices and ensure a reduction in emissions, especially CO2. At the same time, the cogeneration unit will be ready to provide power balance services, which our heating plant may thus join in the future.
Václav Klein, CEO of GENTEC CHP and member of the management of COGEN CZECH
The gas CHP unit for Teplarna Písek will be equipped with the most modern technology available on the market. The production of electricity and heat will be provided by a nine-cylinder engine with an output of 5 MW. Our company will provide the complete works, i.e. from the construction of the hall and facilities, through the installation of the CHP unit to its operation and service.
The CHP unit is not only an efficient source of energy, but also one of the tools for stabilizing the entire energy system. The Sandbox unit will be future-ready - it is designed to co-fire hydrogen as well as provide power balance services. This will enable the heating plant to engage in the market with flexibility and optimize its energy business.
Today, coal-fired thermal power plants account for almost one-third of the Czech energy sector's emissions. Modernising the heating infrastructure is no longer a matter of choice, but of survival. The installation in Písek proves that with the use of innovative technologies, quality suppliers and state support, it is possible to switch to cleaner sources quickly and efficiently. I believe that the project will be an inspiration for other thermal power plants looking for a realistic and fast path to decarbonisation.
Jan Krišpín, CEO ORGREZ
The construction of a new gas CHP unit at the Písek heating plant represents an important step on the way to the gradual decarbonisation of heat production. It also opens up space for the development of other services that will benefit the entire region.
Thanks to its high flexibility, the new unit will be able to stabilise the electricity system, especially in periods when the output of photovoltaic and wind power plants is limited due to bad weather or when there are significant fluctuations in production.
At the same time, a higher level of electrification means an opportunity for the thermal power plant to respond effectively to electricity price developments and to contribute to stabilising heat prices for customers through properly planned production.
The future of green heating lies in a carefully selected and designed combination of sources that work together in optimal harmony. This is the direction in which Teplárna Písek is successfully moving.
CHP unit for Teplarna Písek
- Implementation period: may 2025 - may 2026
- Electrical output: 5 101 kWe, thermal output: 5 200 kWt
- Dimensions: 11300 mm x 3050 mm x 4130 mm
- Investor: Teplárna Písek, a.s., technology supplier: GENTEC CHP s.r.o.
- Engine: Bergen Engines AS (type B36:45 L9AG1)
- Overall efficiency: 96.2%
- Fuel: natural gas with up to 5% hydrogen
- Financial investment. CZK 180-400 mil.
Cogeneration is a key step to move away from coal
The Czech heating industry is undergoing the most extensive transformation in history. The aim of the extensive technological changes is mainly decarbonisation, i.e. a shift of heating plants away from coal. The Písek heating plant plans to completely stop burning coal by 2030.
The new CHP plant is a key step towards achieving this goal and serves as a model for other Czech heating plants looking for a low-emission operation. At the same time, similar modernisation projects are expected to increase significantly in the coming years. This is due both to the Czech Republic's commitments to the European Union in the area of climate policy and the rising price of emission allowances.
CHP units are a highly efficient way of producing electricity and heat from a single source, in this case natural gas. As a result, they reduce fuel consumption by up to 30% compared to separate production and their efficiency is over 90%. In addition, the technology enables very fast start-up and flexible power control, which is crucial for the stability of the transmission system. Cogeneration enables, among other things, the involvement in the provision of power balance services (e.g. aFRR).