How a battery earns in Czechia

Czechia runs a single bidding zone balanced by transmission operator ČEPS, where renewables reached 38% of generation in 2024 and are projected to top 50% by 2030 — a build-out that already forces regional wind & solar curtailment and pushes the day-ahead curve to wide extremes. Over the last 30 days that swing was worth about €147/MWh between the daily low and high — roughly 130% of the average price, the raw arbitrage a battery captures by charging cheap and discharging dear. Since Lex OZE III (in force 1 Oct 2025) storage is a distinct licensed activity („accumulation“), so standalone batteries can now connect directly to the grid — the flagship Tušimice 200 MW / 400 MWh site plugs straight into ČEPS’ 400 kV network. Tariffs are set annually by regulator ERÚ, and support is real, not hypothetical: in March 2026 the European Commission cleared a €279 m (≈ CZK 7 bn) Modernisation Fund scheme for ≈ 1.5 GWh of new storage, up to 50% of capex. On top of arbitrage, batteries can now bid into ČEPS ancillary markets — FCR (≈ 70 MW), aFRR (≈ 300 MW, cross-border via ALPACA) and mFRR — where 2025 assets earned around €340,000 / MW.

€147/MWh

day-ahead spread — 130% of the average price (30 days)

38%

renewables in generation (2024); >50% projected by 2030 — curtailment rising

€279m

EU-cleared Modernisation Fund storage aid for ≈ 1.5 GWh (March 2026)