In the wake of the energy crisis, companies are keeping a closer eye on energy prices and preparing for future shocks. However, self-sufficiency is about more than just a favourable contract with a supplier. Own sources, consumption management, and the ability to operate in the spot market therefore play a key role. Lukáš Dobeš, Director of TEDOM ESCO, discusses how the energy management of Czech companies is changing.
Since the energy crisis, companies have been tackling energy prices more proactively, but some are once again slacking off in modernising their energy management. Where do you see the biggest weakness today?
I see the biggest weakness in the fact that many companies still view energy purely as a cost. Although they have started to monitor electricity and gas prices more closely since the crisis, that is not enough. It is just as important to know when energy is being consumed, what we can generate ourselves, how we manage surpluses, and what market risks we face.
A well-managed energy strategy directly impacts competitiveness. A company that controls both consumption and generation is more resilient to price fluctuations and operational risks. At TEDOM, therefore, we do not start by selecting a specific technology, but by conducting a thorough analysis of consumption.
TEDOM combines energy supply, generation plant operation, combined heat and power, photovoltaics, battery storage, energy management, and flexibility aggregation. How is the role of an energy partner for businesses changing?
The role of the supplier is evolving. Today, customers generally do not need to purchase a single energy source; they need a partner who will look at their energy system as a whole and propose a suitable combination of technologies and services. Without a holistic approach, they simply will not achieve the desired outcome. This may not only be about lower prices, but also about energy security or minimising power cuts.
In practice, this means we are not looking for a single, universal technology but rather for a solution tailored to a specific case. In some instances, the construction of power sources or a combination of these – such as combined heat and power units, photovoltaics and batteries – plays a greater role; in others, the focus is on savings, for example through the use of waste heat; whilst in yet other cases, it is remote monitoring or the ability to operate the source flexibly. Cogeneration has long been one of our main pillars. We have many years’ experience in both the manufacture and operation of units, so we can integrate them into a broader solution for the customer. Thanks to our in-house engine development, we can also respond to changes in fuels, including the emergence of biomethane and, in the future, hydrogen.
Energy decentralisation can mean greater security of supply, lower costs and new revenue streams from flexibility for a manufacturing company. What do you think the energy system of a modern Czech company will look like in five to ten years’ time?
A modern company will need more of its own resources, better data, and, above all, smart management. It will generate some of its electricity itself, purchase some, store some, and, where it makes sense, offer its flexibility to the market. Cogeneration units have a firm place in this, as they can generate electricity, heat, and cooling very efficiently. At the same time, they are efficient and controllable, making them suitable for balancing services too.
Here at TEDOM, we can guide our customers through this process even outside the Czech market. We are expanding our services in the UK, Italy, Poland, and Ukraine, where conditions are exceptionally complex, and we have to work quickly. This know-how gives us a major advantage everywhere, and our customers benefit from it in the long term.
Thank you for the interview.
