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Programme priorities

The discussion will focus on the investment environment and its expected development in the context of forthcoming legislative changes at both EU and Czech levels. It will also address permitting processes and their duration, public procurement, the limitations of capacity mechanisms, as well as issues related to resource adequacy and the preparedness of energy infrastructure. In addition, attention will be given to the distribution of costs associated with the decarbonisation and decentralisation of the energy sector across individual market participants.

 

THE FUTURE OF INVESTMENT IN THE CZECH ENERGY SECTOR

 

The conference The Future of Investment in the Czech Energy Sector will feature three program sessions.

 

BLOCK 1

EUROPEAN AND CZECH FRAMEWORK FOR ENERGY INVESTMENT

The first session will examine the investment environment and its expected development in the context of forthcoming legislative changes at both the EU and Czech levels. Attention will focus on the strategic initiatives of the European Commission emphasizing the strengthening of energy security, electrification, energy efficiency, and network modernization. The discussion will address the revision of the EU Emissions Trading System, for which political consensus is currently being sought. The debate will necessarily address the role of natural gas and renewable energy sources, their contribution to maintaining electricity system stability, their place in the energy mix, and their position within the legislative framework. Discussion will also cover the emerging new Multiannual Financial Framework, its direction, and the question of technological neutrality versus partiality. These topics will be addressed in connection with further implementation of the European Green Deal and with an outline of the changes pursued by the Government of the Czech Republic.

  • How will the EU’s 2040 targets be aligned with the requirements of security of supply and affordable energy prices?
  • What is the future of EU ETS 1, EU ETS 2, and possible alternatives?
  • What changes can be expected in the EU Taxonomy framework, and how will they support investment or constrain corporate decision-making?
  • Under what conditions, and to what extent, can natural gas serve as a stabilizing element of the Czech energy mix over the next 20–30 years?
  • To what extent are the European Commission’s energy initiatives aligned with the investment and technological reality in the Czech Republic, and where does the greatest misalignment arise?

 

BLOCK 2

NEW MARKET DESIGN AND INVESTMENT DECISION-MAKING

It is mid-September 2026. The Czech Republic has received the European Commission’s approval for the specific design of capacity mechanisms under state aid rules. National legislation is responding to the approved model. The basic rules for the auctions are known, and the prequalification process for applicants, which is a necessary condition for participation in the auction, is under way. The auction itself is expected to be launched at the beginning of October. If this scenario is successfully implemented, attention will then turn to addressing the practical issues associated with the construction of new generation capacity, as well as monitoring compliance with the conditions of the mechanism. LMF will provide a platform for discussion on which types of projects will be supported under the new market design and where constraints may arise. Attention will be paid to the permitting process and its duration, the limits of capacity mechanisms, resource adequacy, and the readiness of energy infrastructure. The intended outcome is to provide insight into how to navigate the new environment, where to identify investment opportunities, and how to minimise regulatory and market risks during the first years following the reform of the electricity market.

  • Will capacity mechanisms create a sufficient incentive for new investment, or will they merely stabilize existing generation assets?
  • From the customer’s perspective, what level of security of electricity supply is rational to pay for, and who determines this level and how?
  • Will the Transport and Energy Construction Authority (DESÚ) be able to complete permitting within statutory deadlines, and will investors be able to successfully tender for gas turbines within the given timeframe?
  • How prepared is the Czech gas sector for the connection of new generation sources and increased gas consumption?
  • Following the introduction of capacity mechanisms, how will potential conflicts between market rules and the requirements for the secure operation of critical energy infrastructure be resolved?

 

BLOCK 3

ENERGY AND INDUSTRY IN A NEW REALITY

The third session will initiate a strategic discussion on the medium-term direction of energy and the future of industry in the Czech Republic. It will address the tensions between political objectives and business logic that must be reconciled. Will there be more or less market? A central question will be how to recalibrate market functioning and regulation to enhance not only energy security but also price competitiveness. A fundamental debate will focus on the allocation of the costs of decarbonization and decentralization among market participants. Discussions will address compensation mechanisms, the new tariff structure, and how it can encourage companies to invest in energy storage and optimize consumption over time. In addition, close attention will be given to the evolving end-customer behavior, the development of new business models and services, and the deployment of technologies that will significantly influence the operation of the energy sector in the coming years.

  • To what extent has the Czech Republic managed to adjust the tax and fee burden on electricity to bring it closer to conditions in other EU countries?
  • How has the Commission’s Action Plan for Affordable Energy affected the resolution of the situation in the Czech Republic?
  • How should energy price compensation mechanisms be designed to strengthen the competitiveness of energy-intensive and strategic industries?
  • Which new business models in the energy sector have the greatest potential to become a fully-fledged part of the market, and where, on the contrary, is there a need to change expectations or conditions?
  • Can the new market and tariff system create sufficient incentives for flexibility and energy storage without leading to disproportionate cost increases for companies?