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At first glance, they seem like two different worlds. Martin Sirový (MS), who came to Pilsen from South Bohemia to study (and stayed) is a calm perfectionist with neatly arranged thoughts. Next to him, Pilsen native Aleš Hromádka (AH) radiates energy and doesn’t hesitate to nudge his older colleague and mentor when he drifts too deep into jargon. Together they form a well-tuned pair that gives science both heart and drive. Their joint work at University of West Bohemia in Pilsen is reshaping the region’s energy sector.

What does your cooperation look like, who’s the turbine and who’s the control unit? Can we say that Martin sets the framework and Aleš fine-tunes the details?

MS: In most projects I’m more the control unit and Aleš is the turbine. But it’s not one-dimensional. At the start of research projects, when we don’t yet know the direction, we switch roles. We set off one way, look at the results and then adjust.

AH: I usually feel like the turbine, the driving force. But we have many activities where we talk things through, complement each other and work together on the actual implementation.

How would you like the energy sector in the Pilsen Region to look in 10-15 years, partly thanks to your work?

AH: My perhaps slightly utopian vision is that in 10 to 15 years all solar panels here will be on roofs, not in fields. And that Plzeňská teplárenská and Plzeňská energetika will have their own small modular reactors.

MS: The future of energy not only in our region but in the Czech Republic and Europe is clearly moving away from coal toward more gas-fired plants. Gas plants are among the few that can balance the uncertainty of renewable generation. And in renewables, I think the goal will be to smartly manage a network of small producers or storage units, typically in family homes or smaller industrial sites.

What does it mean to optimise a power plant or a heating plant? Is it about savings, ecology, or entirely new methods and technologies?

MS: To maximise a plant’s operating profit, we must run it efficiently – meaning with minimum input costs, usually fuel. The plant should burn as little gas or coal as possible, while producing power when prices are highest. So we plan operation to generate the most at peak prices and during low prices either reduce output or store energy.

AH: Optimisation covers all three areas – economic, environmental, and technological. They all must stay in balance. Our goal is to make operations more efficient, cut costs and reduce environmental impact. In research we focus on all of this, from performance control to new technologies that make energy systems more sustainable.

How did your research partnership begin and what have you brought to each other?

AH: Martin is a big detail-oriented perfectionist, very precise and critical. Thanks to him I learned critical thinking and became a bit less chaotic. And I, in turn, helped Martin develop patience.

MS: It began with the creation of the RICE research centre. We were looking for skilled people for our teams. When Aleš sent his CV and we met, I was very glad he could become the first member of our team. And he’s still here. Our cooperation broadened my insight into the field of organic Rankine cycles, a thermal cycle where an organic medium like CO₂ is used instead of water. It allows us to capture waste heat from cement or ceramics production, where much of it currently goes unused. We can squeeze out extra work from it and improve overall efficiency.

What does cooperation with industry look like – who brings you research ideas? And whom have you recently impressed?

MS: Most ideas come from our research centre. When we see practical potential, we look for an industrial partner and apply for funding together. We typically work with major players like ČEZ, where we’re addressing heat-plant savings by better controlling cooling-water pumps.

AH: Recently we also caught the attention of our strategic partner Plzeňská teplárenská with an analysis of how to better use the spare heat capacity of their hot-water pipeline. They’re not using it at all today, even though it could increase their revenue.

You’re also following the topic of energy decentralisation in the Czech Republic. What should the state invest in?

AH: I’m a big supporter of small modular reactors. I think they should be a priority. But the energy mix really has to be a mix – all sources must complement each other, not compete.

MS: We must look at this from a Europe-wide perspective. We need to invest in all types of sources. Nuclear and fossil sources provide stability regardless of weather. At the same time, renewables are essential because they reduce dependence on fossil fuels. Storage is also crucial, the ability to keep energy for later. That lets us increase the share of renewables without risking grid stability.

If you could change one thing in energy with a single law, what would it be?

MS: Definitely the emissions-trading system. It’s not bad in principle, but the speculative part should go away. Allowances should function more like a tax on real fossil-fuel use, not a trading commodity for speculation.

AH: I would reduce the administrative burden for building new nuclear sources.

You also teach students together. What gives you the most hope when you look at the next generation of electrical engineers?

MS: Even though we have fewer technical students nowadays, we still have top individuals who want to pursue science, even if it’s not financially attractive. They give the work meaning and help push research forward.

AH: I agree. There may be fewer students, but it’s encouraging that each year there are some who want to grow, maybe even pursue a PhD. I can already see my future successors among them.