16. 05. 2023
Author: David Šebeček
Community energy Líchy
Židlochovice boasts an active local council that strives to promote sustainable solutions. These efforts include a new railway line, innovative waste management and a commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 55% by 2030 in line with EU targets. The city has also joined the Mayors' Pact for Climate and Energy initiative, and in August 2022 adopted the SECAP (Sustainable Energy and Climate Action Plan).
An important key to CO2 savings is the generation of electricity from renewable sources, and the ideal would be to create an energy community that would allow the sharing of self-generated electricity. Unfortunately, there is currently no specific methodology for creating an energy community in the Czech Republic and the relevant legislative frameworks are still being developed.
However, in the northern part of the city, a new residential positive energy/carbon neutral district, Chytré Líchy, is being developed as a joint project between the city and a private investor. This project is the first of its kind in the Czech Republic and is intended to serve as a model example of sustainable housing planning practices. The district will cover an area of approximately 34,000 m2 and will include 80-110 housing units in single-family and multi-apartment buildings. The aim of the district is to achieve a positive energy balance and carbon neutrality and the proposed measures include minimising energy consumption, avoiding CO2 emissions, optimising electricity generation from renewable energy sources, saving water and creating a car-free district.
The feasibility study will be prepared by JINAG and aims to prepare and assess a comprehensive community energy concept in the new district of Chytré Líchy and to enable the involvement of prosumers (citizens, public administration, SMEs). Together with the town of Židlochovice and other partners, JINAG will work to create a community energy network that will enable citizens and local businesses to share energy and create sustainable energy sources.
The Smart Lychees project is a big step towards a more sustainable future and can serve as an inspiration for other municipalities and cities in the Czech Republic. Creating a community energy network and promoting sustainable energy sources are key factors in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and combating climate change.
The town of Židlochovice is thus becoming a leader in sustainability and can serve as an example for other towns and municipalities. If similar projects spread to other parts of the Czech Republic, it can have a positive impact on the whole country and help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve the quality of life of people.
The project is funded under the project "Feasibility study: community energy in the City of Židlochovice, Czech Republic" supported by the Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt.