The National Theater Has a New Energy Center

Today, on the occasion of the unveiling of the new energy center, they were christened Romeo and Juliet. “Unlike Shakespeare’s story, in which Romeo and Juliet meet a tragic end, here in our basement they will provide heat, light, and safety while saving energy. In this way, they will contribute to the theater’s energy stability and serve as a reminder of the great man we hold in such high regard,” commented Jan Burian, General Director of the National Theater.
Two cogeneration units and two new gas boilers have replaced the original setup of four gas boilers and a diesel backup power source in the basement of the National Theater. Unlike the previous setup, one cogeneration unit will be in continuous operation, while the second will start up if heat and electricity consumption reaches its peak or if an emergency situation arises—such as a power outage from the grid.

“If we generate more electricity than we consume, we plan to supply it to our other venues as part of a community energy initiative, or feed it into the power grid,” says Ing. Václav Pelouch, Director of Technical and Operational Management at the National Theater, adding: “The ability to generate our own electricity independently of external supplies is also crucial for audience safety. We need it to operate systems such as emergency lighting and ventilation, fire alarms, and the power supply for the sprinkler system’s pumps.”

The Vltava River as an Additional Energy Source

The second major step in the modernization was replacing two chillers—which used water from the Vltava River to cool the interior spaces of the National Theater’s buildings—with two heat pumps. These heat pumps are designed for both cooling and heating and can utilize heat from river water at a lower temperature than the original heat pump from 2007. That unit remains in operation as a backup.
The benefits of the EPC project for the National Theater also significantly impact the environment and the economy. “The first EPC project from 2007 focused on an absolute reduction in energy consumption; the current project primarily reduces the consumption of primary non-renewable energy sources, namely fossil fuels. The contractor for this EPC project, ENETIQA Solutions, guarantees that consumption of these energy sources will drop by 30%, and the reduction in CO2 emissions is estimated at 40%. Another benefit, of course, is the savings in the theater’s operating costs, which have been estimated at 32 million crowns over the first five years of operation, during which total energy consumption will decrease by 13 percent,” says Václav Pelouch.
The reduction in fossil fuel consumption in the theater’s energy balance will be achieved primarily through TEDOM cogeneration units and the greater operational efficiency of the new technologies. While natural gas consumption will increase slightly, electricity consumption from the grid—much of which is generated by coal-fired power plants—will be significantly reduced.

“For an energy-intensive and operationally specific building such as the National Theater, reliability of the power source is paramount, in addition to high efficiency. Remote monitoring allows for continuous evaluation of the units’ operation, rapid response to deviations, and effective planning of maintenance. Furthermore, they are capable of operating in so-called island mode, i.e., without the need to be connected to the public power grid. Thanks to these features, cogeneration systems are an optimal component for comprehensive energy solutions. This project is also notable because the units are installed on the 5th basement level and meet the strictest requirements for operation in such a demanding environment,” said Evžen Chlanda, CMO of the TEDOM Group.

Following the modernization of the National Theater’s energy systems, the maximum heating capacity was reduced from 10.5 MW to 8.5 MW, while the cooling capacity increased from 2.6 MW to 3 MW. “This new capacity mix better aligns with the changing heating and cooling demands arising from the theater’s needs. The reduced heating capacity is still sufficient to maintain adequate thermal comfort for the theater even under the most adverse weather conditions,” explained Valentýn Avramov, Managing Director of ENETIQA Solutions.

The investment in the modernization of the National Theater’s energy center, totaling 302 million CZK including VAT, was funded by grants. A subsidy of 250 million crowns from the National Recovery Plan covered the cost of the work, while a subsidy of 52 million CZK from the Ministry of Culture covered the VAT. Technicians from the National Theater and ENETIQA Solutions managed to complete this technologically demanding project by the contractual deadline.

Valentýn Avramov commented on the challenge of meeting the deadline: “Given the technical complexity, the numerous interdependencies between technologies, the extremely limited space, and the tight installation schedule, this was an extremely challenging project. Every intervention had to be carefully coordinated, and every change had to be thought through with regard to the interdependencies of other trades and the National Theater’s continuous operation.”

Additional technical parameters of the modernization

Air-handling units were also replaced or newly installed—for example, in the auditorium and on the stage of the historic building—as were selected heating and cooling circulation pumps, river water pumps, a thermal storage system for storing generated heat with a capacity of approximately 100 m³, and more than 800 energy-efficient light fixtures in the basement areas.
The existing energy management and control system was enhanced with new functionalities and modules, and the new technology system is now capable of operating very flexibly and in an integrated manner, which will allow for more efficient and cost-effective use of heating and cooling sources—taking into account the prices of primary energy sources that the National Theater will continue to purchase.

Why the EPC Method Was Used

It was precisely thanks to the theater’s experience from a previous project—in which guaranteed savings targets were achieved—that it was decided this comprehensive modernization would also be carried out using the Energy Performance Contracting (EPC) method, whereby the project contractor assumes the risk of achieving the energy savings. ENETIQA Solutions will guarantee a reduction in energy consumption for a period of 5 years. This method has been used in the Czech Republic for 30 years; since then, more than 300 energy-saving projects totaling 12.1 billion CZK have been implemented.
“The EPC method is suitable for both public and private sector entities and is particularly well-suited for the public sector, as it can deliver essential savings in operating expenses for both public and government institutions,” added Martin Hvozda, CEO of ENETIQA Solutions.

This project is funded by the European Union under the National Recovery Plan.

NextGenerationEU
This project is funded by the European Union under the National Recovery Plan. ENETIQA Solutions implements energy-saving projects, primarily using the EPC method. It is part of the ENETIQA energy group, which consists of 19 companies focused on the production and supply of heat and electricity, operating in fifteen cities across the Czech Republic. The group is also involved in high-efficiency electricity generation, energy recovery from waste, energy consulting, water management, and the provision of electronic communications services. It offers its more than 500 employees across the regions attractive and stable jobs.