KAZALCI OKOLJA

Key message
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In 2015, renewables accounted for 16.6% of total energy consumption. In comparison to the previous year, their share was lower due to a considerably lower overall discharge of rivers compared to 2014.


This indicator shows the consumption of renewable energy sources in Slovenia, which includes the use of solar energy, biomass (wood, biogas, biofuels) and waste, geothermal energy, hydropower and wind energy.

The indicator can be presented in relative (the share of renewable energy sources) or absolute terms (the use of renewable energy sources). For the presentation in absolute terms, the unit of thousand tonnes of oil equivalent (ktoe) is used.


Charts

Figure EN18-1: Shares of renewable sources in total energy consumption for 2015
Show data
Wood Biogas Hydropower Geothermal energy Solar thermal energy Liquid biofuels
55.90 2.81 31.01 4.10 3.27 2.92
Figure EN18-2: Trends of total energy consumption, the RES consumption and the share of RES in total consumption based on the year 2000
Show data
Renewable energy sources consumption (SORS) Total energy consumption Share of renewable energy sources (SORS) Renewable energy sources consumption (SORS) Total energy consumption Share of renewable energy sources (SORS)
2000 784.64 6490.78 12.09 100 100 100
2001 771.98 6665.26 11.58 98.39 102.69 95.81
2002 715.48 6729.68 10.63 91.19 103.68 87.95
2003 713.91 6822.93 10.46 90.98 105.12 86.56
2004 822.09 7029.59 11.69 104.77 108.30 96.74
2005 773.85 7206.82 10.74 98.62 111.03 88.83
2006 770.01 7218.45 10.67 98.14 111.21 88.24
2007 736.80 7243.18 10.17 93.90 111.59 84.15
2008 852.85 7650.22 11.15 108.69 117.86 92.22
2009 1079.14 7089.78 15.22 137.53 109.23 125.91
2010 1120.61 7211.44 15.54 142.82 111.10 128.55
2011 1039.21 7280.05 14.27 132.44 112.16 118.08
2012 1069.31 7007.12 15.26 136.28 107.96 126.24
2013 1173.48 6806.58 17.24 149.56 104.87 142.62
2014 1202.30 6571.33 18.30 153.23 101.24 151.35
2015 1055.77 6454.48 16.36 134.55 99.44 135.31
Figure EN18-3: Renewable energy consumption between the years 1992 and 2015
Show data
Total Liquid biofuels Solar thermal energy Geothermal energy Hydropower Biogas Wood
1992 530.19 0 0 0 293.44 0 236.74
1993 524.04 0 0 0 259.78 0 264.26
1994 555.47 0 0 0 292.26 0 263.21
1995 541.53 0 0 0 278.63 0 262.90
1996 577.96 0 0 0 315.31 0 262.66
1997 528.48 0 0 0 265.86 0 262.61
1998 559.39 0 0 0 296.56 0 262.83
1999 555.42 0 0 0 321.50 3.73 230.20
- 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2000 784.64 0 0 0 329.71 3.63 451.31
2001 771.98 0 0 0 326.40 4.35 441.23
2002 715.48 0 0 0 284.87 5.11 425.50
2003 713.91 0 0 0 254.34 5.76 453.81
2004 822.09 0 0 0 352.02 6.64 463.43
2005 773.85 0 0 0 297.59 6.78 469.48
2006 770.01 4.09 0 0 308.77 8.43 448.72
2007 736.80 13.80 0 0 280.83 11.93 430.25
2008 852.85 24.63 0 0 345.49 14.07 468.67
- 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2009 1079.14 30.41 7.96 6.33 405.42 22.39 606.63
2010 1120.61 45.73 9.26 27.73 388.47 30.39 619.02
2011 1039.21 36.26 14.52 29.59 306.27 35.97 616.59
2012 1069.31 52.00 23.78 31.55 335.27 38.14 588.56
2013 1173.48 60.12 28.92 35.54 398.06 34.74 616.10
2014 1202.30 45.23 32.89 36.97 523.78 30.81 532.62
2015 1055.77 30.81 34.48 43.33 327.35 29.66 590.15
Figure EN18-4: Shares of renewable sources in total energy consumption for EU-28 for 2015
Show data
Wood Biogas Hydropower Geothermal energy Solar thermal energy Tide, Wave and Ocean Liquid biofuels Wind energy Rnewable waste
44.94 7.43 13.96 3.08 6.21 0.02 7.38 12.36 4.61
Figure EN18-5: Share of renewable soruces in gross inland consumption between the years 2000 and 2015 for EU 28 countries
Show data
2000 2015
EU-28 5.69 12.91
EU-15 5.60 13.09
NMS 10 4.99 10.67
- 0 0
Sweden 30.15 37.17
Latvia 30.82 36.39
Austria 22.69 30.05
Finland 23.90 29.17
Denmark 9.10 23.33
Portugal 14.87 19.79
Lithuania 9.55 16.39
Slovenia 12.21 14.84
Romania 11.03 14.67
Estonia 10.30 14.08
Italy 5.81 12.77
Spain 5.51 12.55
Croatia 11.23 12.13
Germany 2.61 10.35
Bulgaria 4.19 8.92
Greece 4.96 8.87
Poland 4.27 8.80
France 6.14 8.16
Slovakia 2.67 8.14
Hungary 3.28 7.51
Czech Republic 3.25 7.50
Belgium 1.08 5.94
Ireland 1.64 5.93
Cyprus 1.90 5.14
Netherlands 1.65 4.28
United Kingdom 0.98 4.15
Luxembourg 1.07 3.10

Goals

- A 12% share of renewable energy sources in total energy consumption in 2010 (Ministry of Environment, 2004);

- An increase in the share of renewable energy sources in energy supply, which is no longer quantitatively defined. The goal for RES share is defined as the share of RES in gross final energy consumption (see the EN24 indicator - The share of renewables in final energy consumption).


The use of renewable energy sources (RES) in 2015 amounted to 1,056 ktoe, which was 12.2% more than a year earlier. The highest share was taken by wood and other solid biomass (55.9%); the second most important source was hydropower (35.0%). The shares of other sources were as follows: liquid biofuels 2.9%, geothermal energy 4.1%, solar energy 3.3% and biogas 2.8% (Figure EN 18-1).

Given its large forested area (58.3% in 2015 according to the Slovenia Forest Service, 2016), extensive use of wood biomass in Slovenia is expected and rational. Besides wood, solid biomass encompasses bone meal and fats, paper sludge and digestate used in industry; however they share is only 1%. Most solid biomass is used in households (463 ktoe in 2015), followed by industry (68 ktoe) and transformation (52 ktoe). The Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia does not monitor the use of wood biomass in services and agriculture (jointly referred to as ‘other use’), which makes its use in Slovenia underestimated. Since 2009, its use in households increased markedly with regard to the preceding years. This increase was largely a consequence of improved methodology for monitoring the use of wood biomass in households. From 2009 onwards, the use of wood biomass in households has been increasing, which can be attributed to a variety of factors: higher prices of fuel oil, economic crisis, promotion of purchase of wood burning boilers and a high percentage of forest owners among Slovenian residents. In addition, the use of biomass is influenced by the severity of winters. The winter in 2014 was very warm – as a result, the use of firewood was considerably lower than in 2013 and 2015. The use of biomass in industry has been declining since 2005. The main reason for this decline is the shutting down of the Vipap cellulose plant and the decline of the wood processing industry. From 2012 onwards, the use has been increasing again and in 2015 it was comparable to that in 2000. In the field of transformation, the use of wood biomass increased considerably when the large TEŠ, TET and TE-TOL thermal power plants started using wood. In 2015, it was 158% above the values in 2000. The use of wood in district heating has been increasing as well due to the incentives provided by the Ministry responsible for energy. Consequently, the number of small systems ussing biomass has been increasing.

The second most important renewable energy source in Slovenia is hydropower. Electricity generated from hydropower amounted to 3,080 GWh (excluding pumped storage hydroelectric power plants) in 2015, which was 37.5% less than a year earlier. The reduced generation was a consequence of unfavourable hydrological conditions. Generating capacity increased by 30% in the period 2000–2015 due to the renovation of large hydroelectric power plants (HPP Boštanj, HPP Blanca, HPP Krško) as well as the construction and renovation of small hydroelectric power plants. By 2019, the construction of the last two in the chain of six hydroelectric power plants on the lower Sava is planned to be completed. The total amount of electricity generated by five HPPs (excluding HPP Vrhovo, which was constructed in 1993) will be 720 GWh.

Other renewable energy sources used in Slovenia are as follows: biogas (landfill gas, gas from water treatment plants and other biogases – biogas systems in agriculture), geothermal energy, solar energy and liquid biofuels. The use of biogas increased by 951% over the period 2000–2012. The growth was particularly high after 2008. In 2013, the use of biogas decreased for the first time (by 8.9%), which can be attributed to stricter regulations regarding the use of input substrates. The decreasing trend continued in 2014 and 2015. The use of liquid biofuels in transport appeared in 2006 for the first time and increased until 2013. In recent years, the use of liquid biofuels has been declining. The use of geothermal (heat pumps) and solar energy (thermal solar collectors) in households appeared in the statistics for the first time in 2009, with direct use of geothermal energy in health resorts and agriculture following in 2010. The statistics also follow electricity generation in solar power plants. The use of solar energy (thermal solar collectors) is increasing slowly. Electricity generation in solar power plants has also been increasing. However, the increase has slowed considerably down over the last couple of years due to changes in  the subsidy scheme. Total use of geothermal energy is increasing as well, which is largely as a result of growth in the number of heat pumps. Total use of other RES increased by 22% in the period 2010—2015.

The consumption of renewable energy sources in 2015 represented 16.4% of total energy consumption. Thus, the 12% goal set for 2010 was surpassed. Meeting the goal was not only a result of the increased use of renewable energy sources and the improved monitoring of their use by the statistics, it was also greatly influenced by the reduction in total energy consumption as a result of the economic crisis and the implementation of energy efficiency measures (for more information, see indicators EN16 Total energy consumption by fuel and EN10 Final energy consumption by sector).

In Slovenia, the use of renewable energy sources is encouraged through various mechanisms. Investments in new devices are stimulated by the Environmental Fund of the Republic of Slovenia through favourable loans and subsidies, which are also provided to final customers by large taxpayers pursuant to the Decree on energy savings requirements. The use of wood biomass and geothermal energy in district heating systems is stimulated by the ministry responsible for energy. Electricity generation from RES is promoted by the support scheme for electricity production from renewable energy sources (for more information see indicator EN19 Electricity production from renewable energy sources). The use of biofuels is encouraged by excise tax exemption which, however, has only been available for 100% biofuels (and not for blends) since 2014. Also, distributers of liquid motor fuels must meet goals defined by the Decree on the promotion of the use of biofuels and other renewable fuels for the propulsion of motor vehicles (Official Gazette of the Republic of Slovenia, no. 103/07). In order to promote the use of renewable energy sources and meet the target share of RES in gross final energy consumption, the Renewable Energy Action plan was adopted in 2010 (for more information, see indicator EN24 The share of renewables in final energy consumption).

 


Methodology

Date of data source summarization

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