Prague has approved a heating strategy developed by experts from UCEEB CTU

9. 11. 2026 | News

On 10 September 2026, the Prague City Assembly approved the Prague District Heating Strategy, prepared over two years of intensive work by an expert team from CTU UCEEB led by Ing. Jakub Maščuch, Ph.D. The document presents a comprehensive concept for the transformation of Prague's district heating sector, with a planning horizon extending to 2036 and subsequent milestones through to 2050.

Prague's district heating sector is facing a fundamental transformation. The gradual phase-out of fossil fuels, increasingly stringent legislative requirements and the development of new urban areas are creating a need to modernise existing energy infrastructure and identify new heat sources. The approved strategy aims to create the conditions for a modern, reliable, low-emission and economically sustainable heat supply for the capital in the long term.

Five pillars of modern district heating in Prague
The strategy is based on five interconnected pillars that together form a concept for the future development of heating and cooling supply.
One of the key proposals is the utilisation of heat from treated wastewater through an Energy Centre located at the Central Wastewater Treatment Plant. This concept envisages the use of large-capacity heat pumps and represents a significant opportunity to integrate a local renewable energy source into the heat supply system serving a substantial part of Prague.
The other pillars focus on the modernisation of local boiler plants, the transformation of the district heating system on the right bank of the Vltava River, energy solutions for new development areas and opportunities for efficient district cooling. Another important element of the strategy is the proposed operational interconnection of the Energy Centre with the Pražská teplárenská district heating network, which would enable more efficient use of renewable heat and contribute to meeting future legislative requirements.

Expert research as the basis for strategic decisions
The preparation of the strategy required a comprehensive technical, environmental and economic assessment of various scenarios for the future development of Prague's district heating sector.
The CTU UCEEB expert team, led by Ing. Jakub Maščuch, Ph.D., and including Ing. Daniel Suchna, Ing. Jakub Dytrich and other specialists, developed a concept that takes into account not only technological possibilities but also investment requirements, legislative obligations, operating conditions and potential impacts on future heat prices.
The result is a strategic document that aims not only to formulate a long-term vision but, above all, to provide a technically and economically feasible roadmap for its implementation.

From strategy to concrete actions
The approval of the document does not mark the end of the process. The Prague City Assembly has also mandated further steps, including negotiations with key stakeholders in Prague's district heating sector, the completion of economic analyses and regular evaluations of the strategy's implementation.
The successful transformation of one of the most significant urban energy systems in the Czech Republic will depend on cooperation between the City of Prague, energy companies and other stakeholders. The approved strategy therefore provides an important foundation for jointly identifying solutions, preparing specific projects and making future investment decisions.

The approval of the Prague District Heating Strategy confirms the importance of applied research and professional cooperation between academia and public administration. For CTU UCEEB, it represents a significant outcome of long-term work in the field of energy systems and a concrete example of how scientific knowledge and technological innovations can help shape the future of Czech cities.

Source: Resolution of the Prague City Assembly No. 36/4 dated September 10, 2026, and the Heating Strategy for the Capital City of Prague, CTU UCEEB, 2026.