Czech biomethane auction oversubscribed fourfold: bids for 176.4 million m³ against a volume of 45 million m³

The first Czech operating support auction for biomethane, held in May (the year is not given in the source; the context points to 2026), ended with huge interest. Support was offered for 45 million m³ of biomethane production per year, and the bids submitted amounted to 176.4 million m³ of annual production – almost four times more. 63 projects were submitted. The results were described on 11 September 2026.

What the results showed

Strong competition lowered the reference prices of the winning bids, and thus the cost of the programme for public finances. The source does not give price levels. The auction is the first practical implementation of the programme approved by the European Commission in April 2026, worth EUR 3.7 billion, based on two-way contracts for difference for 15 years. The Ministry of Industry and Trade intends to organise further auctions in the coming years.

Why it matters

A fourfold oversubscription means that in Czechia there is a large pool of prepared projects for which predictable support had previously been lacking. It is a similar situation to Poland, where more than a hundred biomethane projects are waiting for regulations. For designers of support systems the auction is proof that with a CfD design combined with a tender, competitive prices can be obtained if the market is prepared. At the same time the question arises of how many of the submitted projects will actually be realised – experience from RES auctions shows that some winners do not build their installations.

Significance for the industry in Poland

Poland is approaching the launch of its own biomethane auctions: the Sejm passed the relevant act on 4 September 2026. The Czech experience suggests three things: reference prices should leave room for competition, the auction volume should correspond to the number of prepared projects, and the organiser should plan further rounds so as not to concentrate too many bids in one. It is also worth noting that neighbours compete for the same supplies of equipment and engineering staff.

For Polish investors it is also an argument in discussions with banks: since in Czechia 63 projects ready to take part in an auction appeared in a single round, in Poland – with more than 120 projects – the risk of a lack of interest appears smaller than the risk of a shortage of auction volume.

What to watch

The article gives no prices, construction deadlines or realisation rate. The results are worth comparing with the prices of the German tenders (cap of EUR 0.2313/kWh) and Danish premiums, to assess which cost levels are realistic in Central Europe.