In the summer of 2024, AHP 5HL s.r.o., a subsidiary of the ADI Group, completed a major private project of rooftop photovoltaic power plants (PV plants) in the city of Chomutov. The installation was carried out on the roofs of 34 heat exchanger stations, and the total capacity of the system reached 1.1 MWp. The project was supplemented by 1 MWh of battery storage, which provides greater flexibility in the use of the energy produced.
The installation uses high quality technology - Leapton 580 Wp monocrystalline panels, Deye hybrid inverters and batteries, H1Z2Z2-K solar cables (TEKSOLAR XX) of Czech manufacture with EZU certification and a lifetime of over 25 years, and K2 Systems mounting structures that ensure a durable and long-lasting fixing of the panels on the roofs of the substations.
Energy from PV at market conditions
Although the panels were installed on the substation buildings, the PV plant operator and the substation operator are two different legal entities. The model is set up as a commercial relationship where AHP 5HL supplies the generated electricity directly to the exchangers at market conditions.
This enables the PV plant to generate and supply electricity in a meaningful and efficient manner. The income from the sale of electricity covers the costs of the project and makes it economically viable for the investor, even in times of fluctuating feed-in tariffs. Battery storage also plays an important role here, helping to optimise the use of surpluses and reduce dependence on current electricity prices.
Intelligent management: responding to market and operating conditions
The entire system is controlled by smart energy logic that monitors:
- the current market electricity purchase price,
- the status of the battery storage,
- and the possibility of supply to local consumption points.
If the market price of electricity is negative and the battery storage is full, production is automatically curtailed. Conversely, if the price is positive or the storage capacity is free, the electricity is either stored or supplied to the grid or to the facilities with which AHP 5HL has a contractual relationship.
This strategy ensures that PV generation is efficient, stable and adapted to the current market situation - without waste, but without artificially limiting output.
Future prospects: the possibility of community sharing
In the future, there is the possibility of further development - for example by involving the city of Chomutov in the community energy model. The surplus power from the PV plants that today ends up in the grid could be supplied directly to municipal buildings - such as schools, offices or cultural facilities.
This model, which is already allowed by legislation, would bring mutual benefits:
- PV would not have to curtail production even in times of negative prices.
- Municipal buildings would receive energy under more favourable conditions.
- The city could reduce its operating costs and increase its energy independence.
It should be stressed that this model is still only prospective and has not yet been technically or contractually implemented.
Summary
The rooftop PV project of AHP 5HL s.r.o. represents an efficient and economically sensible approach to renewable electricity generation in an urban environment. Thanks to smart production control and system flexibility, high operational efficiency is ensured even in changing market conditions.
The current model is based on the commercial supply of electricity generated by PV plants, not on direct self-consumption by the station operator. The economic benefits accrue mainly to the plant operator, who supplies electricity to the customer sites at market price.
In the future, however, this model can be extended to incorporate community energy principles, which will allow better use of surpluses and benefit also municipal entities. The project thus demonstrates not only technical maturity and economic logic, but also the potential for sustainable energy development in the city.