This report includes data on molded fuels (briquettes and pellets) made from biomass (wood and plant), peat, coal and paper. The report is the result of processing all the available statistical sources and contains evaluation of statistical data for years 2013 and 2014.

PID = Potential Induced Degradation refers to the physical phenomenon that causes seemingly inexplicable reduction in output from photovoltaic panels. Basically, the interlayer polarization leading to irreversible degradation of silicon photovoltaic panels. PID typically begins to appear after 2-4 years of operation, and may cause performance degradation of the solar panel according to the type and location of the panel in the string up to 70 percent. In case of an early solution, PID is reversible. PV module can be depolarize and return them almost original performance.

Text is focused on the energy effectiveness of the heat pump installations operated in the system for space heating and domestic hot water preparation. Conventional heat pumps are operated in hot water system with low coefficient of performance (COP). Heat demand structure in multifamily buildings with high heat use for hot water influences the energy effectiveness of heat pump operation. Moreover, combination with space heating results in high installed heat capacity of the units which is not used during the year.

The ozone layer is essential for life on Earth. It protects the biosphere against excessive doses of UV radiation. Anthropogenic emissions of ozone-depleting CFCs caused a serious problem. Fortunately thanks to the Montreal Protocol and its appendices the ozone layer regenerates today, virtually on a global scale. Restoration of the ozone layer is accelerated by climate change, what in the future could lead to a lack of UV radiation.

Extended concept of the term electricity storage can greatly increase the possibility of storing electricity from renewable sources at a time when their production exceeds demand. The electricity could be stored not only using conventional technologies which returns electricity (P2P – power-to-power), but in form of heat or gas too (P2H – power-to-heat and P2G – power-to-gas). While conventional technologies P2P and P2H too allow to store energy for several hours or at most days, P2G technology in conjunction with underground natural gas storage has sufficient capacity for seasonal accumulation.

This article tries to summarize the available information about photovoltaic power plants operated in the Czech Republic. Apart from describing the current situation, it is therefore concerned with comparisons between photovoltaics and other kinds of RES; the photovoltaic production according to region; the distribution of power production according to size of the installations; legal personality of the operators and international comparisons.

Concept Data Support Department of the Ministry of Industry and Trade has prepared this statistical report as a comprehensive national statistics on renewable energy sources. The report focuses on the share of RES in the energy balance of the Czech Republic and describes in detail the development of the each RES categories, which are: biomass, biogas, liquid biofuels, solar, wind and water energy, heat pumps and renewable part of industrial and municipal waste. There is a description of methodology regarding data collection and consequent analysis at the beginning of each section (chapter) of the report. Data included in the report are fully comparable (compatible) with data which are reported on regular basis to International Energy Agency and Eurostat.

Concept Data Support Department of the Ministry of Industry and Trade has prepared this statistical report as a comprehensive national statistics on renewable energy sources. The report focuses on the share of RES in the energy balance of the Czech Republic and describes in detail the development of the each RES categories, which are: biomass, biogas, liquid biofuels, solar, wind and water energy, heat pumps and renewable part of industrial and municipal waste. There is a description of methodology regarding data collection and consequent analysis at the beginning of each section (chapter) of the report. Data included in the report are fully comparable (compatible) with data which are reported on regular basis to International Energy Agency and Eurostat.

Concept Data Support Department of the Ministry of Industry and Trade has prepared this statistical report as a comprehensive national statistics on renewable energy sources. The report focuses on the share of RES in the energy balance of the Czech Republic and describes in detail the development of the each RES categories, which are: biomass, biogas, liquid biofuels, solar, wind and water energy, heat pumps and renewable part of industrial and municipal waste. There is a description of methodology regarding data collection and consequent analysis at the beginning of each section (chapter) of the report. Data included in the report are fully comparable (compatible) with data which are reported on regular basis to International Energy Agency and Eurostat.

The goal of this paper was to inform about the development of the building integrated photovoltaic thermal (PV-T) system and evaluate its performance in compared to PV installation built of same photovoltaic cells. The study was collaboration among the Technical University of Denmark (DTU and Danish company RAcell (end-reference to website). This project was applied and optimized with the coupled house system on FOLD house, built in purpose of international student competition Solar Decathlon Europe 2012 held in Madrid in September 2012. The proposed PVT system was awarded with first price in Solar system integration sub-contest, during the competition SDE 2012.“Highly effective and innovative integration of PV and thermal systems that is not only a machine added to a house, but added value without creating too much attention to that machinery,” said one of the jury members about the PVT system, announcing the winner.
The PV-T is a hybrid system where the significant growth of efficiency of electricity generation is caused by cooling the cells to optimal temperature by system of embedded pipes on the backside of photovoltaic panels. The thermal part removes the heat, cools down the cells and increases its el. production up to 14,8 % according to PV system using the same cells in the same weather conditions. New solution was carried out for piping connection between panels. The house integrated PV-T system was compared with separate Photovoltaic and Thermal systems from energy and economy point of view. For annual usage of the FOLD house in Spain and Denmark was the PV-T system found as a more beneficial in compare to two separate systems.

This paper deals with investigation of the relationship between calculated and on-site measured values of energetic parameters in a zero house built in Slovakia. Energy consumption of a zero house is currently being discussed and examined from the viewpoint of energy consumption and comfort of the house residents. The paper investigates the differences between the results of simulation models and calculated values and real data on consumption. All the values are compared to the values measured by DTHL Klima Logger device and Wohler CDL 210 device to measure levels of CO2, and the data taken from a heat pump and a recuperation unit related to the residents’ behaviour records. The results show that energy consumption was influenced significantly by residents’ behaviour, setting of inner temperature besides airtightness of the outer envelope and window fillings. Based on the research results the construction of a zero house can be considered a standard option in conditions of Slovakia.

From November 2014 entered into force the new international standards for solid biofuels ISO 17225 for pellets, briquettes, wood chips and wood. This is a set of seven standards, which replaces the original European standard EN 14961.

Waste water that ends up in the sewer network contains a large amount of energy. Utilization of this energy, which is also available throughout whole year, is not yet part of the standard engineering practice in the Czech Republic. This article brings an inspiration in the form of experience from Austrian city of Amstetten, where was implemented a project, which is using combination of a sewage heat exchanger and a heat pump. State of the art as the same as the factors affecting the utilization of waste heat are also included.

Described as the greenest commercial building in the world, the Bullitt Center in Seattle, Washington pushes the envelope in urban sustainability. The six-story, 52,000-square-foot structure is designed to meet stringent requirements of the Living Building Challenge (LBC)—using photovoltaic cells to generate enough electricity to sustain the needs of its tenants, recycling its own water and waste, and reducing energy use by more than 80 percent compared to an average office building.
LBC requirements stipulated that the Bullitt Center meet a number of criteria, including responsible site selection, 100 percent on-site renewable energy generation, 100 percent of water needs provided by harvested rainwater, and on-site waste management.
The aim is to lower CO₂ emissions and reduce the environmental footprint of the building. Target life cycle 250-year is a key part of that goal.

The highest representatives of more than 120 countries accepted the invitation to the UN Climate Summit 2014. In addition to these UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon invited representatives of financial and commercial institutions and civil society. The aim was to encourage and accelerate climate action. Ban Ki-moon requested them to announce bold measures and actions to reduce emissions, strengthen climate resilience and mobilize political will towards meaningful legal agreement in 2015.
Representatives of Countries presented their statements, but only rarely there was mentioned a specific reduction in CO₂ emissions. Generally it can be said that most states are willing to contribute to reducing CO₂ emissions “appropriately”. The question is what this word means in their imagination.