Implementation Plan of the Local Energy Concept (MEK) Benešov and Analysis of Community Energy Potential

In July 2023, the Benešov City Council approved the Local Energy Concept as a strategic development document in the field of energy. The concept consolidates available information on the current state of the city’s energy management, including compliance with legal obligations, and proposes energy-saving measures for selected municipal properties. Given Benešov’s ambitions and plans for the development of photovoltaic (PV) sources, the document also introduces the concept of community energy and its potential benefits. Following the preparation of the Local Energy Concept, we collaborated with the client to develop an implementation plan, presenting possible approaches and tools for its realization.

The goal of the plan is to prioritize the proposed energy-saving measures outlined in the Local Energy Concept and to provide city leadership with sufficient relevant information for selecting the most suitable course of action. To this end, the document presents possible approaches and tools, along with an assessment of their applicability under local conditions. Together with the client, we mapped the city’s energy implementation needs and, based on an evaluation of existing capacities, proposed practical recommendations for executing the measures outlined in the Local Energy Concept. Additionally, the document presents a variant implementation portfolio for the period 2025-2026, allowing city leadership to flexibly respond to the current situation and available funding opportunities.

As a continuation of the Local Energy Concept, the document also includes an analysis of community energy potential. In the introductory section, we provided the client with an overview of the current state of community energy, assessed the available options for energy sharing, and described future prospects. Based on the city’s opportunities and preferences, we recommended the most suitable solution, including a clear procedural framework for preparing and initiating energy sharing.

As part of the analysis, we used a simulation program to model the production of planned photovoltaic sources and assessed 40 municipal properties. After selecting suitable buildings, we designed three pilot variants for the introduction of community energy based on a simulation of energy sharing and summarized their economic benefits. This variant-based approach allows city leadership to select the optimal model based on the current situation.

The City of Benešov continues to develop its energy management, build renewable energy sources, implement energy-saving measures, and take active steps toward launching community energy within the city.