For the purpose of the (eligibility for the) support for electricity production from renewables – as introduced from 2006 onwards by the Act No. 180/2005 Coll. – the Czech legislation defines renewable sources as follows:
„Renewable sources shall mean renewable non-fossil natural energy sources, i.e. wind energy, solar energy, geothermal energy, water energy, geothermal energy, energy of the environment, biomass energy, and (methane included in) landfill gas, sewage gas, and gas from underground mines.”
As for biomass is here understood “the biodegradable fraction of products, waste and residues from operation of agriculture and forestry and related industries, agricultural products grown for energyproduction purposes, as well as the biodegradable fraction of separated industrial and municipal waste.”
A more detailed specifications what is biomass is then included in secondary legislation to this act, namely Decree of the Ministry of the Environment No. 482/2005 Coll., where in total 24 categories of biomass are distinguished and (for awarding certain level of support to E-RES produced from them) further differentiated according to their suitability for different energy production processes (anaerobic digestion, “pure” combustion, co-firing).
However, it is not the only one biomass definition in Czech legislation and for example in the national transposition of the EU Directive on EU ETS (via Act No. 695/2004 Coll.) there is another specific definition which is here used for the purpose of reporting on CO2 emissions (to apply zero emission factor onto the eventual biomass share in fuel mix used by a certain installation).
Biomass in energy policy, strategies and legislation
The State energy policy of the Czech Republic from 2004 states the article on Promotion of electricity and heat produced from renewable energy sources. It is an objective with a very high priority focusing on preferring renewable energy sources. The state will promote utilisation of all energy sources that can be reproduced in the long-term and the use of which will contribute to the reinforcement of state independence from foreign energy sources and to environmental protection. All types of renewable sources will be supported – sources using solar, wind and water energy, geothermal energy and biomass for producing electricity and heat. The utilisation of secondary energy sources and alternative fuels in transport will also be promoted.
The purpose of the Act on support for the use of renewable sources of energy (Act No. 180/2005 Coll.) is to support the use of renewable sources of energy, i.e. wind energy, solar energy, geothermal energy, water energy, soil energy, air energy, biomass energy, landfill gas energy, sewage gas energy and biogas energy. The purpose of the Act is also constant increasing of the share of renewable 23 sources in the consumption of primary energy sources, economical use of natural resources and meeting of an indicative target of the share of electricity produced from renewable sources in the gross consumption of electricity in the Czech Republic at 8 % by 2010.
