There are many renewable energy sources. However, they are usually closely linked to the available conditions and their payback can vary significantly between locations.
Photovoltaic power plants (PV) are a classic renewable energy source. Photovoltaics are a simple and readily available way of using renewable resources to generate electricity. They are relatively easy and inexpensive to acquire and install. Moreover, its acquisition is, in most cases, supported by subsidies. Small-scale PV is most often placed on the roofs of buildings. The most efficient use is achieved if the plant is sized and designed specifically for the consumption of the building. The amount of energy PV plants produce is widely dispersed, both during the day and throughout the year. The actual weather also has a significant impact. It is, therefore, necessary to evaluate the coincidence of potential production with the consumption pattern of the building, which also typically fluctuates over time.
According to the amendment to the Energy Act, which came into force in 2023, it is now possible to build PV plants up to 50 kW without the need for a building permit (previously up to 20 kW) and without the need for a licence for electricity production (previously up to 10 kW). The process of assessing the installation of RES from the point of view of heritage protection has also been significantly reduced. In most areas, no assessment by the conservation authority is required at all (yet it is advisable to maintain rational conservation requirements).
Other renewable sources are wind power and hydropower. Biomass is a different renewable energy source. This can take various forms. This includes the use of synthetic fuels based on ethanol. However, it also includes the burning of wood in various forms (pellets, briquettes, or logs). It is mostly used for heating or CHP. The last renewable source is geothermal energy.
