Ratiboř reaches finals of Energy Globe Awards for sustainability

The Czech village of Ratiboř has become a finalist in the E. ON Energy Globe Awards 2026 due to its focus on energy efficiency and sustainability. The municipality, which has approximately 1,800 residents, has achieved energy self-sufficiency by utilizing photovoltaics installed on most municipal buildings. This setup allows the village to produce roughly 130 MWh of electricity annually, which it uses for its own needs and sells back to the grid.

Mayor Martin Žabčík noted that strategic planning over the last 12 years has allowed the village to manage a budget significantly higher than the typical 45 million CZK available to municipalities of this size. In addition to solar energy, the village utilizes waste heat from a local restaurant for heating and manages rainwater and ponds as part of its environmental projects. The public can vote for the winner of the competition until the end of August.