Why this is important to Wisconsin businesses: The country has made a commitment to phasing out coal by 2033 and expanding its nuclear and renewable energy sectors.
The Czech Republic plans big moves toward clean energy over the next 25 years.
The country’s National Energy and Climate Plan, submitted to the European Commission in January 2025, calls for raising the share of electricity generated by renewable sources from 16.5% in 2023 to 28% by 2030 and 46% by 2050, according to World Nuclear News.
With the European Union’s goal to become climate neutral by 2050, the Czech government said it will phase out its coal-fired power plants by 2033, transforming them to natural gas fuel at first, to be replaced by renewable sources in the future.
Nuclear power plays a major role in the government’s plans. As of 2024, the Czech Republic’s six nuclear plants accounted for 20% of the country’s installed capacity and 41% of net electricity production, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency. With the potential for up to four more nuclear reactors to be built, nuclear energy could represent 68% of the total generation by 2040, the government said.
Environment Minister Petr Hladik said the goal is “to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 55% by 2030 through the development of renewable energy sources, storage and flexibility, energy savings, and the phasing out of fossil energy, including the complete phase-out of coal mining and combustion by 2033. The scenario envisages a fivefold increase in energy from photovoltaics and wind, increasing building renovation rates, and the development of nuclear power.”
To boost energy security, the Czech Republic upgraded the Transalpine pipeline to handle its annual oil demand without Russian imports. In March 2025, the EU approved a €279 million ($327 million USD) aid scheme to install at least 1.5 GW of new electricity storage, supporting the net-zero transition.
Wisconsin companies in the clean energy industry may find opportunities to participate in the Czech Republic’s transition in areas that include smart grids, hydrogen technology, and agricultural energy.
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