In the first part of the article is a brief overview of the market of collectors of solar radiation in the Czech Republic, the basic layout of different types of collectors and major part of solar systems. Following parts provide some basic connection of solar systems for various heating load (hot water, heating, swimming pool) and a simplified design absorber area. Each scheme is briefly described its function. In conclusion, it is marked possible connections of storage tanks for different performance.

This contribution summarizes utilizing of co-generation and tri-generation systems for effective electricity, heat and cool production. A co-generation and a tri-generation offer more effective utilizing of primary energy sources in comparison with separate production of different kinds of energy. This contribution describes actual state in the Czech Republic in year 2009.

The article describes a new way to control the output of heating systems, redefining the relationship between control and controlled variables, includes the equations for designing control actuators, analyses the importance of signal values and sets the conditions for total savings of the heat gain regulatory processes in thermal-hydraulic systems. In addition, it provides some key information for field measurement and control.

Advantages of the EPC methodology in comparison to other solutions

EPC methodology has a lot of advantages in comparison to other solutions on reconstruction of energy systems. The most important feature is assumption of risks, which customer would have to solve. The most important adoptable risk is guarantee for the savings. Unique feature of the EPC is the same motivation for the ESCO and for the customer, both to invest money by the most effective way (efficient quality equipment) and to reach as high savings as possible. It is very appealing that the ESCO is able to assure financing of the project. The customer needs not spend the investment during implementation of the energy efficient measures and he pays it back during the investment during the contract duration from saved operational costs.

Specific features of the EPC in the Czech Republic

The Energy Performance Contracting was introduced in the Czech Republic in 1992. From that time the EPC methodology was developed enough in the field of documentation for public tendering process and also in the field of text of contracts for the energy services provision. Unfortunately the state support of EPC project development is in the Czech Republic very weak. Nevertheless the situation is from ESCOs effort and interest of customers very good. By number of the EPC projects and size of the projects is the Czech Republic in Europe on the top position, including Germany, France, UK, Austria and Sweden.

The output data of the calculations of thermally balanced heating systems demonstrate automatic heat savings of the control technology when exposed to heat gain. The dynamic behaviour of systems has been demonstrated, and for the first time the changes in operating parameters that occur when they are exposed to heat gain have been quantified. The results show that thermally balanced heating systems save substantially more energy.

Nowadays, the support for the production is renewable energy is growing. Biomass is among the important sources of renewable energy. It can be used in biogas plants as a raw, organic material of various origins, or as a “dry” biomass with low moisture, which is suitable for the production of energy through incineration. Both electricity and heating can be produced with biomass. And that is actually the problem. Whereas the production of electricity is supported, support for the production of heat is still missing.

This paper contains a proposal involving basic thermal calculations and how to manage water heating with a heating plate in hot water tanks. Heating plates are chosen because water heating can be clearly described from without the tanks with conventional heating relations, and designers can easily calculate all parameters. Tanks are used because they can reduce the heat output of the generators. We are speaking in this case about gas condensing water heating boilers.

The article proposes possible measures to reduce heat loss of pipe network used for heat supply. It discusses ways to reduce temperatures on pipe networks in terms of reducing the consumption of supplied objects and tries to find a suitable solution for pipe networks insulation.

The gross production of electricity from renewable sources in 2008 was 5.2% of the national gross electricity consumption. The share of renewable energy in primary sources reached 5%. The share of renewable energy sources in the production of thermal energy is around 7%. According to the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, in 2009 the share of electricity coming from renewable sources was 6.8% of the final electricity consumption in the Czech Republic.

The paper presents the possibility of heating regulation in heating systems and systems for water warming. Detail description of basic functions implemented in heating controllers is briefly mentioned. By using of heating controllers it is possible to achieve automated heating of environmental spaces based on actual outside air temperature.

The following contributions, which deal with this problematic, consider the impact of high heat resistance of the walling on the thermal comfort and the design of heating ventilations systems, which are still perceived, as it is the case in buildings with classical walling, therefore, to have lower thermal resistance. For instructions to formulate the effect of walling on the thermal comfort and technical equipment, a general comparison of both the following cases is made, which is simply called building with high thermal resistance of external walls for a low-energy house, and a building with classical walling parameters (e.g. housing estate from the past) as a standard house. The articles are not of exact technical nature and deal with regularly updated dependencies and sometimes refer to previously applicable legal provisions.

The calculate the balance of annual fuel requirement it is important to correctly determine the specific calorific value of the fuel and to asses the real efficiency of the boiler itself. Not always this data is consistent with what is reported by manufacturers or retailers of pellets and pellet boilers. Just to get an idea, for a 1kW heat loss the consumption would be 520kg of high quality pellets. This is of course an estimate, because it depends on the concrete weather conditions in a given year (length of the heating season, etc.), but it also depends on the chosen temperature for the heated area (for some people 22ºC is too much, others feel cold even at 26ºC. It is normally calculated that to heat water for a family of four the annual consumption is 25GJ. That, calculated for a boiler and pellets gives as an approximate of 1.7 tonnes of pellets a year.

Principle of the Energy Performance Contracting is in energy service providing by preparation, instalment and usually also by financing of energy saving measures. Stakeholder does not invest money at once after measures realization, but the expenses are paid to ESCO regularly by payments from saved operating costs. Moreover the ESCO as provider provides guarantees for sufficient value of the savings at the level from the agreement. The EPC is package of the services in relation to design, technical preparation, engineering, organization of realization, energy management and usually also financing. The target of the service is lowering of operating costs for energy and more efficient using of energy.
The Energy Performance Contacting is provided in the Czech Republic from 1993. From that time about ten energy services companies (ESCO) learnt to apply the EPC metodology. In the public sector the announcement of the tendering process was gradually optimized and last time it is made as standard selection procedure. The highest number of the realized projects was in municipal sector. Besides the municipalities the projects are realized also in state sector, mainly in the sectors of education, healthcare, culture.