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Czech Biomethane Auction Oversubscribed Four Times Over

The Czech government's first biomethane support auction drew bids for more than four times the expected capacity, pushing down the price of the winning offers.
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Photo: Joerg Hartmann
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Czechia's first-ever biomethane auction for operating support was nearly four times oversubscribed, the Czech Ministry of Industry and Trade (MPO) announced. The round, which closed in May and aimed to support 45 million m³ of biomethane production a year, attracted a total of 63 projects with a combined capacity of 176.4 million m³. According to the ministry, the strong competition pushed down the reference price of the winning bids, reducing the burden of the support on the state budget.

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Interest exceeded expectations

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According to the MPO, the level of interest exceeded even the government's most optimistic expectations. Karel Havlíček, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Industry and Trade, said the result confirms that the support scheme was designed correctly.

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"This confirms that we designed biomethane support correctly and that the sector has a strong future in Czechia." – Karel Havlíček, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Industry and Trade

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The MPO plans further auctions in the coming years to expand domestic renewable gas capacity. The scheme aims to bring biomethane production, grid injection and end use into a single framework.

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