When the windows of apartment buildings in Trhové Sviny light up in winter, few people think about where the heat comes from. Hot water in schools, warmth in the local cinema and comfortable temperatures in healthcare facilities are simply part of everyday life. But behind this everyday comfort is a decision the town made more than 25 years ago.

While many European towns and cities are still looking for ways to reduce their dependence on fossil fuels, Trhové Sviny started down this path back in 1999. The town decided to use a resource available right on its doorstep: wood from the surrounding forests of South Bohemia.

Local biomass became a new source of energy. Instead of relying on coal or gas, the town began using wood chips and other residues from wood processing for heating. Every year, around 6,000 tonnes of biomass are turned into energy for hundreds of local residents.

Today, the district heating network supplies around 100 customers, including about 450 apartments, dozens of family homes, schools, public buildings and other facilities. For local residents, what matters most is simple: the heat is reliable and affordable. Behind it is a well-designed energy system based on a renewable resource from the surrounding area.

But the story of Trhové Sviny is about more than heating.

When the town modernised its heating plant in 2004–2005, it took another step forward. A new biomass boiler was installed together with ORC (Organic Rankine Cycle) technology, allowing the plant to produce both heat and electricity from biomass.

The idea is simple: heat from burning biomass is also used to generate electricity. This allows the plant to make better use of the energy contained in the wood.

Today, the ORC unit produces around 1,000 MWh of electricity each year while also supplying almost 3 MW of heat to the town network. In other words, the same biomass heats the town and helps produce renewable electricity. “But that is not the end of the story,” says Ondřej Kolář, managing director of Tepelné hospodářství Města Trhové Sviny. Ash from high-quality wood chips is also used as a mineral fertiliser. This allows nutrients taken up by the trees as they grow to be returned to the land, helping to close the natural nutrient cycle.

Each delivery of wood also supports local jobs for forest owners, biomass suppliers, transport companies and the people who operate the heating plant. Money spent on fuel stays largely in the region instead of going abroad, supporting the local economy. Biomass is therefore more than a source of energy – it is also part of the local economy.

Recent years have shown another advantage of this approach. When fossil fuel prices rose sharply and European energy markets became uncertain, local renewable energy proved its value. Energy produced from regional resources is less dependent on geopolitical crises and long supply routes.

Trhové Sviny shows that the energy transition does not have to happen overnight. It can be built gradually, step by step, with a long-term vision and confidence in local resources.

More than 25 years after the first biomass boiler started operating, it is clear that the decision was about more than investing in new technology. It was also an investment in greater energy independence, the local economy and the town’s future.

That is why Trhové Sviny can inspire not only other towns in the Czech Republic, but also communities across Europe looking for cleaner, more secure and more sustainable ways to supply energy.