Comparison of Czech and Austrian approaches to the production of electricity from renewable resources: Difference between revisions

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In the Czech Republic more than half of electricity is generated in thermal power plants, whereas in Austria it is only 17 %. This huge disproportion can be explained with several factors. Firstly, in the Czech Republic, there are sufficient supplies of coal and uranium. Secondly, there are historical causes. During the communist era, there were only little concerns about the negative impacts of coal burning on the environment in Czech and the mentality of people is changing slowly. In 1990s when the solar era in Austria kickstarted, in Czech the main concern was to start nuclear power plant Temelín. The Czech energy concept for 2011-2060 counts with enormous reduction share of coal in energy mix in favour of nuclear energy.
In the Czech Republic more than half of electricity is generated in thermal power plants, whereas in Austria it is only 17 %. This huge disproportion can be explained with several factors. Firstly, in the Czech Republic, there are sufficient supplies of coal and uranium. Secondly, there are historical causes. During the communist era, there were only little concerns about the negative impacts of coal burning on the environment in Czech and the mentality of people is changing slowly. In 1990s when the solar era in Austria kickstarted, in Czech the main concern was to start nuclear power plant Temelín. The Czech energy concept for 2011-2060 counts with enormous reduction share of coal in energy mix in favour of nuclear energy.


In Austria they don’t like to use nuclear energy because of nuclear waste and risk of leakage of radioactivity. In the Czech Republic if we want to be energetically self-sufficient and environmentally friendly we have no other option than to use nuclear energy. We cannot burn coal, solar and wind power would not be sufficient to meet the energy needs of households and industry and contrary to Austria, we have almost no opportunity to use hydro energy.
In Austria they don’t like to use nuclear energy because of nuclear waste and risk of leakage of radioactivity. In the Czech Republic if we want to be energetically self-sufficient and environmentally friendly we have no other option than to use nuclear energy. We cannot burn coal, solar and wind power would not be sufficient to meet the energy needs of our country and in contrary to Austria, we have almost no opportunity to use hydro energy.


The possibility to use energy from renewable resources is highly influenced by geography. The hydro potential in Austria is huge, more than 60 % of electric energy is made out of hydroelectric power plants. On the other hand, in the Czech Republic only 3 % of electricity is made in hydroelectric power plants. The potential of Czech rivers in almost fulfilled. Further expansion is very limited due to unfavourable conditions. If the Czech Republic started to build new hydroelectric power plants, it would be feasible only with huge investments and even then the amount of electricity generated by those power plants would be very small.  
The possibility to use energy from renewable resources is highly influenced by geography. The hydro potential in Austria is huge, more than 60 % of electric energy is made out of hydroelectric power plants. On the other hand, in the Czech Republic only 3 % of electricity is made in hydroelectric power plants. The potential of Czech rivers in almost fulfilled. Further expansion is very limited due to unfavourable conditions. If the Czech Republic started to build new hydroelectric power plants, it would be feasible only with huge investments and even then the amount of electricity generated by those power plants would be very small.  
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