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


Advantages and disadvantages of renewable resources
As for other renewable resources, solar and photovoltaic panels can be used for electricity production only during period of sufficient sun light, which is mainly from October to March. Those energy resources can be used as a side resource for households or small network of consumer not for big entrepreneurs or even whole country. As we could hear during our excursion in solar factory, the energy also cannot be used for the whole year without a storage system. The chargers are very expensive and has a quite short lasting service life so it can be another disadvantage of solar or PV system. What surprised us is that 100 % of parts of certain types of panels are recyclable. Average lifespan of panels is 25 years, but they could work longer with reduced efficiency. Development is moving forward rapidly and solar energy is becoming more profitable and cheaper.
Solar and photovoltaic panels can be a resource for electricity only for period of sufficient sun light, which is mainly from October to March. Those energy resources can be used as a side resource for households or small network of consumer not for big entrepreneurs or even whole country. As we could hear during our excursion in solar factory, the energy also cannot be used for the whole year without a storage system. The chargers are very expensive and has a quite short lasting service life so it can be another disadvantage of solar or PV system. What surprised us is that 100 % of parts of certain types of panels are recyclable. Average lifespan of panels is 25 years, but they could work longer with reduced efficiency. Development is moving forward rapidly and solar energy is becoming more profitable and cheaper.


Conclusion
Conclusion
It is not a solution to install solar panels or wind power everywhere just to have energy, especially in time of current technologies. Even in Austria, solar power is only supplemental source of energy and only in local scale. It is impossible to meet the growing energy demand only with solar and wind power as they are not stable and available all the time. It is important to concern specific climatic and other conditions, to combine the most suitable types of energy resources, and what is most important to save energy! As was mentioned above it means that, Austrian energy supply will be more or less taken from renewable resources. Whereas energy supply in The Czech Republic will be based on nuclear energy.
It is not a solution to install solar panels or wind power everywhere just to have energy, especially in time of current technologies. Even in Austria, solar power is only supplemental source of energy and only in local scale. It is impossible to meet the growing energy demand only with solar and wind power as they are not stable and available all the time. It is important to concern specific climatic and other conditions, to combine the most suitable types of energy resources, and what is most important to save energy! As was mentioned above it means that, Austrian energy supply will be more or less taken from renewable resources. Whereas energy supply in The Czech Republic will be based on nuclear energy.
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