Due to high density of electricity grid and large local coal supply in the 20^th century there was no reason to look for energy alternatives in Czechoslovakia. Therefore the wind power development was narrowed to several enterpreneur projects.

Article is dealing with gasification principles and gasifiers. Gasification is process for gas producing from solid fuels (coal, wastes, biomass). Producer gas can be used in cogeneration unit (piston engine or combustion turbine) for generating of heat and electricity with higher efficiency in comparison with combustion in boiler. All processes in gasifier taking place with regulated supply of gasification media (air, oxygen or steam) and reaction heat.

The paper presents an analysis of main design parameters influence (width of the air gap between the absorber and the covering glazing, emissivity of the absorber and insulation thickness) on the thermal performance of solar collector. High-quality flat-plate solar collector was chosen as a reference variant. The aim of the analysis is to show, to what extent it is possible to modify these parameters towards cheaper collectors without significant reduction in energy quality of solar collector in operation.

Second part of wind power series describes the beginning of wind power in Denmark and in Germany. Both countries began world leaders in wind power development and installation at the turn of the century. In addition the article tells several parallel stories of wind turbines that were significant for the wind branch as development stages or as the dead ends.

The article discusses the appropriateness of choice source of heat for buildings with low energy requirements in respect of view of the designer and investor. The main theme is the use of renewable energy sources.

Pellet heating systems are a fairly new technology. Consequently there may be problems caused by the lack of experience with this technology. This also applies to pellet storage installations. Pellet stores have to fulfil a number of requirements to make sure that the pellet quality is maintained and safe operation is guaranteed.
The ENplus storage guideline describes the requirements to preserve fuel quality and provide safe storage of pellets for both professionals (such as installers) and consumers. It covers the technical properties of pellet stores as well as information on safe and adequate operation of these stores. They do not replace installation guidelines and instructions from pellet boiler/storage manufacturers but do take precedence over advice from installers/distributors. Planning aids and filling regulations from manufacturers of pellet storage, extraction systems and pellet boilers must be followed.
Professional practices are the cornerstone of successful market development.

Solid biofuels emit gaseous products in the air during their storage. These gases can be dangerous for health and the environment. The composition and quantity of the gaseous products is dependent on many factors. Temperature belongs among the most important factors. This article deals with the qualitative and quantitative analysis of gaseous products released during heating of forest wood chips. It was assessed usage gaseous products for indication of state of stored materials. Samples of wood chips were heated in a furnace in the temperature range 50–150 °C in increments of 50 °C for one hour. Analysis of the gases was performed by using an infrared spectrometer with Fourier transformation.
These findings can be used for correct selection of safety precaution.

Usage of solid biofuels increases due to substitution of fossil fuels. This fact contributes to increasing of danger of fire due to spontaneous combustion. Spontaneous combustion of these materials occurs during their storage in large piles. This tendency to spontaneous combustion is not the same, but is influenced by various factors. This article deals with the determination of tend to spontaneous combustion and evaluation of effect of moisture on self – ignition temperature of four kinds of wood chips. Evaluation of tendency to spontaneous combustion was performed according to standard EN 15188, in an isothermal furnace. The results have implications for the specification of safe conditions of storage of coal and wood substances and the selection of safety measures.

The aim of electricity distributor is that customers may be sourced if a constant amount of energy. When properly appliances division into groups according to how they can be turned off, it is possible to reduce the agreed value of the load shedding and save on fixed fees. The regulator load shedding so in the short term applies.

The article guides us through wind turbines history from first experiments over new rotor designs and power enlargements to first wind turbines in the Czech republic, in the USA, Denmark and other "pioneer instalations" in Europeans countries.

In the presented article is analyzed aging of the photovoltaic power plant panels located in Dukovany. Photovoltaic power plant in Dukovany (identified also as PV power plant) is the oldest PV power plants built in the Czech Republic. PV power plant was put into service in 1998. After 17 years of working is slowly ending its life. This work compared an electricity production in individual years, decreasing of produce energy from the values given by the manufacturer and also describing visible defects on selected modules.

The paper deals with complex solution of heating and economy measures regarding ecology of heat sources and preservation of architectural values of the Volyně college-complex. This solution also includes padding warm and exchange of windows in all complexes. New technology in boiled room was installed with application of boiler for fytomass-burning, gas condensation boilers, thermal pump in system air/water and cogeneration unit for supply electric energy.

The article presents a new condensing boiler with an automatic feeding system and a burner designed for combustion of biomass with high water content. The boiler has a modular layout allowing great variability in arrangement and performance. Heat output of the boiler can vary within the range from 10 to 500 kW. A stand-alone condensation heat exchanger which is essential part of the boiler is designed as self-cleaning without fouling of heat transfer surfaces. The exchanger’s contribution to overall heat output is about 10 % when combusting wood chips with moisture exceeding 40 %.

Coppice is a traditional type of forest management with short harvest period. It has all but disappeared from Czech countryside, but there has been renewed interest in coppicing in recent years. Coppice forests may become a substantial source of energy biomass in rural areas. Two approaches are most relevant: (i) Conversion of some current broadleaved high forests into coppice forests. Coppicing shows worse long term financial returns but higher biomass production and faster yield than conventional high forest. It is interesting for private and municipal owners of small forest properties. (ii) Minor changes in law would make government’s afforestation subsidies available for establishment of new coppice forests in farmland. Nevertheless, they will probably remain a minor counterpart to better yielding short rotation coppice.

Third part of serial focuses on solar system components. The fact, that there is a tendency for undersizing the component to reduce the system price, is expectable. But cases, in which the basic safety guidelines are broken, are just a demonstration of incompetency of installation company not only in the field of solar thermal systems but in the heating branch in general.

Visit and familiarization with the Engineering Test Institute. The process of certification of automatic boilers for solid fuels – for wood pellets. Description of the activities thermal and environmental testing equipment.