Frank Bold Society e. V.
Údolní 33
CZ-602 00 Brno
Initial Situation and Identified Problems: The Czech Republic ranks last in the EU regarding electricity generated from renewable energy sources (13.4% compared to the EU average of 42%). Community energy is entering its implementation phase, with the first pilot projects launching in 2025. However, three critical deficits threaten the sector's development and its potential contribution to environmental goals:
1. Lack of Comprehensive Overview: Information about the community energy sector remains fragmented. There is no systematic understanding of which models are functioning, their economic returns, or their market role.
2. Economic Unsustainability: Electricity sharing is currently the only economic activity of Czech energy communities, yet it cannot adequately cover operating costs of larger communities under current regulations. Unlike Germany, Czech communities receive no tax exemptions or network fee discounts, limiting their viability.
3. Absence of Innovative Economic Activities: While German energy communities have invested billions of EUR through diverse activities including collective ownership of renewable installations, Czech communities lack models for collective investment and resource ownership - a dimension completely absent in the Czech market.
Project Objectives
The EnerCOMPASS project aims to strengthen the economic viability and scale-up of energy communities in the Czech Republic, thereby accelerating the deployment of decentralised renewable energy sources.
Specific objectives include:
Identifying and analysing key barriers to sustainable community energy development
Transferring proven economic models from Germany's mature market
Building capacity of local actors through structured mentoring and knowledge exchange
Developing policy recommendations to remove systemic barriers
Environmental Relevance:
By improving economic sustainability of energy communities, the project directly contributes to increased renewable energy deployment. Economically viable communities create stable demand for local PV and wind installations, while citizen participation in ownership increases public acceptance of renewables. The project supports decarbonisation through local generation reducing grid losses and optimal utilisation of renewable capacity.
The EnerCOMPASS project employs a systematic multi-phase approach combining innovative participatory methods with proven analytical techniques to strengthen economic viability of Czech energy communities.
Phase 1: Analysis & Mapping
FBS conducts comprehensive research using mixed methods: internal analysis of operational models from Czech pilot projects, identifying barriers in electricity sharing. This quantitative foundation will be validated through a stakeholder hackathon - an innovative method adapted from software development. This intensive workshop rapidly prioritizes community needs through interactive techniques, creating networking opportunities beyond traditional research.
Simultaneously, FBS researches the German market through desk research and semi-structured interviews, identifying transferable economic models. Synthesis of Czech-German findings results in a practical publication with recommendations and case studies.
Phase 2: Knowledge Transfer & Capacity Building
FBS and UKEN establish Czech-German community partnerships through structured twinning programme with BBEn support. Each partnership receives intensive mentoring: introductory meetings, regular online consultations, and study trips to Germany. This peer-to-peer learning ensures practical knowledge transfer from mature German market to emerging Czech sector.
UKEN organizes 3 expert workshops across different Czech regions to disseminate findings from WP2 and twinning experiences, ensuring inclusive access for municipalities, SMEs, and citizens.
Phase 3: Policy Development
FBS develops systemic recommendations through consultations with UKEN's legislative working group, translating barriers into concrete policy proposals. These will be presented to key stakeholders (ministries, regulatory authority, political parties) through targeted advocacy meetings.
Phase 4: Communication & Dissemination
UKEN leads multi-channel dissemination: 8+ outputs across social media, website, newsletter. Key elements include video stories from twinning and English articles.
Division of Labour:
FBS: Project coordination (WP1), German market analysis, twinning coordination, policy recommendations
UKEN: Communication strategy, workshop organization, stakeholder engagement