Press release – State Environmental Fund of the Czech Republic
The project to transport heat from the Dukovany Nuclear Power Plant to Brno — known as the Dukovany–Brno Hot-Water Pipeline — has secured CZK 10.6 billion in funding. The support was confirmed with the signature of Czech Minister of the Environment Petr Hladík. The total projected investment cost of the project is approximately CZK 18 billion. Construction of the hot-water pipeline is scheduled to begin in 2027, with heat delivery to Brno expected to start in 2032.
“We will deliver cheaper, cleaner, and safer energy to the people of Brno thanks to the hot-water pipeline from Dukovany. This project is a clear example of responsible and strategic energy policy and demonstrates how heat from a nuclear power plant can be effectively used as a stable and environmentally friendly energy source. Once completed, the pipeline will cover up to half of Brno’s heat consumption, significantly contributing to the city’s energy self-sufficiency while reducing our dependence on fossil fuel imports,” said Prime Minister Petr Fiala.
The new hot-water pipeline, developed by Teplárny Brno, will connect Brno’s district heating network with the existing units of the Dukovany Nuclear Power Plant. This will provide heat to residents of Brno and its surroundings while substantially reducing dependence on natural gas supplies for heating. The government has also approved an amendment to the Linear Constructions Act, granting the project priority infrastructure status and allowing for accelerated construction.
“The hot-water pipeline will completely transform how Brno sources its heat. More than half will come from nuclear power, over a third from waste-to-energy facilities, and the rest almost entirely from biomass. Thanks to the new system, primary energy consumption will drop by more than 20%, and greenhouse gas emissions will fall by nearly 60% compared to today — equivalent to taking 100,000 cars off the road. The project makes sense not only economically, but also environmentally. It will play a key role in decarbonizing the South Moravian Region,”
explained Minister Petr Hladík. He added:
“Brno residents will have cheaper and cleaner heat independent of imports. Furthermore, the project is not just about the pipeline from Dukovany to Brno and back — it will also connect a large part of Brno consisting of eight city districts currently operating local gas boilers. District heating is one of the key sectors influencing both air quality and the overall carbon footprint of the Czech Republic. That’s why we are using emission allowance revenues to support modernization and fuel-switching projects in heating plants.”
Technical Details
The design includes a 40-kilometer main feeder pipeline from the Dukovany Nuclear Power Plant to a terminal station in Brno-Bosonohy. From there, it will split into two branches and connect with Teplárny Brno’s existing district heating network. The total length of newly constructed heat distribution pipelines will be 94 kilometers.
“Implementing this project marks a major step toward a modern, sustainable, and energy-independent future for Brno — one that will bring both environmental and economic benefits to its residents. The hot-water pipeline will help stabilize heat supplies, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and limit the city’s dependence on imported gas, on which Brno currently relies for about 80% of its heating. Effectively, the city will phase out gas altogether, producing heat from waste, biomass, and the new pipeline. It’s important to stress that this project is significant not only regionally but also nationally, helping the Czech Republic meet its environmental commitments to reduce fossil fuel use and CO₂ emissions. It’s incredible how far we’ve come since April 2022, when we revived this project — originally conceived in the 1980s — during the energy crisis. The approval of financial support proves that we are moving in the right direction,”
said Markéta Vaňková, Mayor of Brno.
The Dukovany–Brno Hot-Water Pipeline is part of the wider transformation of the Czech heating sector. District heating is one of the key industries affecting both air quality and the country’s overall carbon footprint. Czech heating plants currently emit more than 15 million tons of CO₂ annually, accounting for about 20% of total energy-sector emissions. District heating, used by more than 40% of Czech households, still relies on coal for nearly half of its production — a source that will be completely phased out by 2033.
The construction of the pipeline from the Dukovany Nuclear Power Plant to Brno will be carried out by the municipal company Teplárny Brno in cooperation with ČEZ.