KAZALCI OKOLJA

Key message
Neutral

Slovenia’s relatively high energy intensity is decreasing too slowly compared to other EU Member States. In 2008, total energy intensity increased after decreasing for six years, which represents a deviation from the set objectives.


This indicator shows total energy intensity that is calculated as the ratio between the total energy consumption and gross domestic product for a calendar year. Energy consumption per unit of GDP is one of the main indicators of sustainable development that shows to what extent there is a decoupling between energy consumption and economic growth over time. The indicator decreases if GDP grows at a higher rate than energy consumption and environmental pressures decrease if energy consumption decreases.

Energy intensity decreases with improvements in energy efficiency (Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia, 2009). It enables us to evaluate the energy consumption of the economy and its energy efficiency. It is measured in toe/million EUR 2000 (the consumed primary energy is measured in tonnes of oil equivalent and the national gross domestic product is converted into constant prices (in EUR) in the year 2000 so as to enable direct comparability among Member States).

Total energy consumption is the sum of total energy consumption of different sources of energy: solid, liquid and gaseous fuels, nuclear energy, renewable energy sources and exports and imports of electricity (net import of electricity).


Charts

Figure EN11-1: Trends in total energy intensity in the 1992-2008 period
Sources:

Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia, 2009; Ministry of the Economy, 2009.

Show data
1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001
Total energy consumption = Total primary energy supply ktoe 5282 5527 5768 6143 6443 6661 6496 6442 6360 6749
GDP constant prices of the previous year, reference year 2000 mio EUR 15509 15950 16799 17489 18119 19010 19693 20743 21600 22216
Total energy intensity - Slovenia toe/mio EUR 341 347 343 351 356 350 330 311 294 304
2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
Total energy consumption = Total primary energy supply ktoe 6820 6931 7129 7307 7318 7336 7749
GDP constant prices of the previous year, reference year 2000 mio EUR 23098 23753 24771 25884 27388 29249 30271
Total energy intensity - Slovenia toe/mio EUR 295 292 288 282 267 251 256
Figure EN11-2: Trends in total energy consumption, gross domestic product and total energy intensity in the 1995-2007 period compared to 1995 and comparison with energy intensity trends in the EU-25
Sources:

Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia, 2009; Eurostat, 2009.

Show data
1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004
Total primary energy supply ktoe 6143 6443 6661 6496 6442 6360 6749 6820 6931 7129
GDP constant prices of the previous year, reference year 2000 mio EUR 17489 18119 19010 19693 20743 21600 22216 23098 23753 24771
Total energy intensity - Slovenia toe/mio EUR 351 356 350 330 311 294 304 295 292 288
Total energy intensity - EU25 toe/mio EUR 2000 201 204 198 194 188 182 183 180 182 180
Total primary energy supply Index (1990 = 100) 100 105 108 106 105 104 110 111 113 116
GDP constant prices of the previous year, reference year 2000 Index (1990 = 100) 100 104 109 113 119 124 127 132 136 142
Total energy intensity - Slovenia Index (1990 = 100) 100 101 100 94 89 84 87 84 83 82
Total energy intensity - EU25 Index (1990 = 100) 100 101 99 97 94 91 91 90 91 90
2005 2006 2007
Total primary energy supply ktoe 7307 7318 7336
GDP constant prices of the previous year, reference year 2000 mio EUR 25884 27388 29249
Total energy intensity - Slovenia toe/mio EUR 282 267 251
Total energy intensity - EU25 toe/mio EUR 2000 177 171 165
Total primary energy supply Index (1990 = 100) 119 119 119
GDP constant prices of the previous year, reference year 2000 Index (1990 = 100) 148 157 167
Total energy intensity - Slovenia Index (1990 = 100) 80 76 72
Total energy intensity - EU25 Index (1990 = 100) 88 85 82
Figure EN11-3: Comparison of energy intensity (TPES/GDP in PPS) of the EU-27 countries in 2007
Sources:

Eurostat, 2009.

Show data
EU-27 EU-25 EU-15 EU-10 - Bulgaria Finland Estonia Czech Republic Slovakia
Total energy intensity 2007 toe/PPS 155 153 147 209 306 281 260 245 224
Poland Romania Belgium Sweden Lithuania Hungary Slovenia France Latvia Netherlands
Total energy intensity 2007 toe/PPS 208 203 202 192 190 176 174 167 165 163
Germany Cyprus Luxembourg Austria Portugal United Kingdom Spain Denmark Italy Greece
Total energy intensity 2007 toe/PPS 162 154 150 140 136 135 132 130 128 128
Malta Ireland
Total energy intensity 2007 toe/PPS 127 108
Figure EN11-4: Comparison of trends in total energy intensity in the 2000-2007 period
Sources:

Eurostat, 2009.

Show data
EU-27 EU-25 EU-15 EU-10 - Malta Austria Italy Netherlands Luxembourg
TEI change 2000-2007 % -10 -10 -10 -19 3 0 -2 -4 -4
TEI 2000 toe/mio EUR 2000 187 182 168 519 191 140 145 184 165
TEI 2007 toe/mio EUR 2000 169 165 152 421 197 141 142 177 159
Portugal Denmark Spain Finland France Germany Cyprus Greece Sweden Slovenia
TEI change 2000-2007 % -4 -6 -6 -7 -8 -9 -10 -11 -13 -15
TEI 2000 toe/mio EUR 2000 205 112 196 246 180 166 237 205 180 300
TEI 2007 toe/mio EUR 2000 197 106 184 230 165 151 212 182 156 253
Czech Republic Hungary Poland Belgium United Kingdom Lithuania Bulgaria Ireland Romania Latvia
TEI change 2000-2007 % -16 -17 -18 -19 -20 -24 -25 -25 -29 -30
TEI 2000 toe/mio EUR 2000 659 482 489 244 145 571 1361 137 913 441
TEI 2007 toe/mio EUR 2000 552 401 400 199 116 432 1016 103 652 307
Estonia Slovakia
TEI change 2000-2007 % -30 -32
TEI 2000 toe/mio EUR 2000 819 796
TEI 2007 toe/mio EUR 2000 577 539

Goals

- reduction in total energy intensity;
- implementation of measures aimed at facilitating efficient use should result in a saving 9 % of total energy consumption in the 2008-2016 period;
- 20 % energy savings by 2020.


Energy consumption is the largest source of environmental pressure, while on the other hand, energy is indispensable for the existence and development of humankind. One way of reducing energy consumption is to reduce energy-related activities (e.g. reducing the number of passenger kilometres travelled, reducing the requirement for heat), or by using energy in a more efficient way.

In 2008, Slovenia required 256 toe of primary energy/2000-million EUR GDP. In 2007, energy intensity decreased by 6.3 % and in 2008, it increased by 2.1 %. Since 1997, an increase in energy intensity was noted only twice, i.e. in 2001 and 2008. The biggest reductions were evident in the second half of the 1990s, while the dynamics of this reduction became more moderate after the year 2000. A more considerable reduction in energy intensity was again noted in 2006 and 2007, while the trend of 2008 represents a deviation from the set objectives.

In 2007, the EU-25 needed 165 toe of primary energy/2000-million EUR GDP, which is 3.7 % less than in 2006. Slovenia therefore generated the same product with an approximately 50 % higher energy consumption that the EU-25 average. In the 1995-2007 period, energy intensity decreased by an average of 1.6 % annually and in the last seven years at an average rate of 1.4 % annually. In the last twelve years, energy intensity in Slovenia decreased at a rate of 2.7 % and in the last seven years at a rate of 2.4 %. In the last seven years, the same reduction as in the EU-25 was also evident in the EU-15 countries, while in the EU-10 countries, the average annual reduction stood at 3.0 %.

In the treated period, the intensity of Slovenia’s economy came close to that of the EU-25’s, but this alignment was considerably too slow at the beginning of the third millennium. In the last two years, however it substantially improved. A comparison of energy intensity in 2007 calculated from GDP in PPS shows the intensity of the Slovenian economy being approximately 12 % higher than that of the EU-25. There are also substantial differences among individual Member States. The most energy efficient Member State, Ireland, consumes almost three times less energy for the same GDP as the least energy efficient Member State, Bulgaria. Slovenia is among the more energy wasteful Member States, while another problem lies in its reduction level being among the lower ones with regard to other energy wasteful Member States (Figure 2). Even though we used over 70 % more energy per unit of GDP than the EU in 1995 and 60 % more in the year 2000, we did not make a lot of progress compared to other EU Member States, as in these years differences in energy intensity among the EU Member States also decreased. This is why we had a higher level of energy intensity in 1995, 2000 and 2007 than all of the western European countries, while all of the eastern European countries had an even higher level of energy consumption than Slovenia. Therefore, we have not progressed in the ranking of European countries in the last twelve years. (Institute of Macroeconomic Analysis and Development, 2010).

Slovenia’s high energy intensity can be correlated with a rather low GDP per capita with regard to the EU average and a high share of industry in the GDP as well as the impact of transit traffic. As regards energy consumption per capita, Slovenia is close to the EU-25 average (only slightly more than 2 % below average in 2007). A similar energy consumption is for example evident in Ireland, which however has a substantially higher GDP per capita than Slovenia and thus also a lower level of energy intensity. Among the EU Member States, Slovenia has almost the highest share of manufacturing industries, especially paper, chemical, non-metal and metal industries, i.e. activities which use an above-average amount of energy. These four industries together generated 30 % of added value generated by manufacturing industries in 2007, while the share of energy consumed by these industries was over twice as high standing at 70.5 %. The high primary energy intensity is influenced by electricity and heat production in thermal power plants with low efficiency and in the nuclear power plant, whose statistically determined efficiency stands at 33 %.

The renewed increase in energy intensity in 2008 in Slovenia was the result of high energy consumption in transport, while GDP growth already slowed down due to the onset of the economic crisis. In 2008, economic growth in Slovenia declined throughout the year and was even negative in the last quarter of the year. The average for the year was 3.5 %. Primary energy consumption increased by a higher percentage, i.e. by 5.6 %. According to data provided by the Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia (which include only domestic transport operators), the volume of road freight transport substantially increased in the last quarter of 2008 (by 17.2 % on the interim level and by 18.4 % on an annual level). The sale of diesel fuel in Slovenia increased by as much as 23.1 % in 2008, which was also the result of this fuel being sold at a lower price than in the majority of neighbouring countries. Road freight transport therefore contributed the largest share to a renewed increase in energy intensity. The relatively high energy consumption was therefore the result of a 16.2 % or 410 ktoe increase in the consumption of petroleum products, a 10.1 % or 150 ktoe increase in the consumption of nuclear energy (a year without a regular overhaul), a 22.8 % or 64 ktoe increase in the consumption of hydroelectricity (high river capacity) and an 11.1 % or 52 ktoe increase in the consumption of biomass (an increase in the co-incineration of biomass in thermal power plants) (Institute of Macroeconomic Analysis and Development, 2010).

In 2006, the EU set ambitious goals for a greater level of energy efficiency and thus also a lower energy intensity. The Action Plan for Energy Efficiency: Realising the Potential (COM (2006)545) sets the EU’s objective of saving at least 20 % of total primary energy by 2020. In order to achieve this objective, the Action Plan determines the policies and measures to be taken in all sectors of final consumption and in transformations: The key measures are:
• facilitating the use of energy efficient transport means, a better efficiency of public transport and the actual costs of transport being covered by users;
• stricter standards and better labelling of appliances and equipment;
• improved energy performance of existing buildings in the EU as soon as possible and the development of a deployment strategy for very low energy or passive houses, with a view to moving towards this type of house as a standard in new construction;
• a coherent use of taxation aimed at achieving greater energy efficiency;
• improved efficiency of heat and electricity production, transmission and distribution;
• a new international framework agreement on energy efficiency with a view to facilitating general endeavours.

Furthermore, Directive 2006/32/EC on Energy End-Use Efficiency and Energy Services that was adopted in April 2006 covers all end-use sectors, with the exception of undertakings included in the scheme for greenhouse gas emission allowance trading within the Community and to a certain extent also to aviation and maritime bunker fuels and the armed forces. The mentioned Directive requires the Member States to set the framework target of achieving 9 % energy savings (2001-2005 average) in 9 years (2008-2016) by implementing measures for energy efficiency. In order to achieve this target, each Member State has prepared its action plan for energy efficiency for the 2008-2016 period.

The set direction is also being followed by one of the targets laid down in the 3x20 package adopted in March 2007, i.e. 20 % energy savings by 2020.

There will also be other factors influencing the energy intensity of primary energy consumption: the technological refurbishment of the transformations sector and increase in the production of electricity from renewable energy sources and in cogeneration plants as a result of the implementation of different measures determined by the Operational Programme for Limiting Greenhouse Gas Emissions by 2012.

The National Energy Efficiency Action Plan for the 2008-2016 Period that was adopted at the beginning of 2008, will enable Slovenia to achieve the final energy savings target of 9 % in nine years. The implementation of the plan is currently still not financially covered.


Methodology

Data for Slovenia and other countries

Objectives summarised by: Resolucija o Nacionalnem energetskem programu (Resolution on the National Energy Programme, Official Gazette of the Republic of Slovenia, No. 57/04), Directive 2006/32/EC on Energy End-Use Efficiency and Energy Services and the proposal of the climate and energy package.

Source database or source:

Energy supply: 1995-1999: the Jožef Stefan Institute (see EN16 – Total Energy Consumption by Fuel), following the year 2000: the Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia (SI-STAT > Energy Balance).
Data for the EU and Slovenia for comparison with the EU: EUROSTAT (100900 Gross inland consumption > All products).
GDP: 1995-2008: the Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia > Constant prices in the previous year, reference year 2000, EUR 2000 exchange rate: the Bank of Slovenia.
Data for the EU and Slovenia for comparison with the EU: EUROSTAT (GDP and main components – volumes > Gross domestic product at market prices > Millions of euro, chain-linked volumes, reference year 2000 (at the year 2000 exchange rates)).

Data administrator: Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia (Mojca Suvorov, Andrej Flajs) or EUROSTAT.

Date of acquisition for the indicator: 8 December 2009

Methodology and frequency of data collection: Data are prepared on an annual basis. There is a difference in the methodology employed by the Slovenian Statistical Office and that employed by EUROSTAT as regards data for the energy balance, as these two institutions use different data for calorific values of individual types of fuel that are required to convert the consumption of fuel in mass units (t, Sm3) into energy units (toe). The Slovenian Statistical Office uses national data on calorific values, while EUROSTAT uses default values that are the same for the entire EU-25 region. Furthermore, there is a difference in the EURO/SIT exchange rate used by EUROSTAT and the Bank of Slovenia, which causes a difference in GDP data.

Data processing methodology: The indicator is calculated as the ratio between energy supply (the item in the energy balance provided by the Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia) or total energy consumption and GDP in the year 2000 constant prices. The time series on gross domestic product is at constant prices of the previous year with the 2000 reference year to avoid the impact of inflation. In calculations, the exchange rate of the year 2000 is used (the Bank of Slovenia, 205.0316 SIT/EUR). For cross-country comparisons, gross domestic product in purchasing power standards (PPS) is used.
Energy supply (total energy consumption) is determined as total inland energy consumption and is calculated in the energy balance as follows:
INDIGENOUS PRODUCTION + IMPORTS – EXPORTS + RESERVES + INTERNATIONAL MARINE BUNKERS.
Average annual rate of growth is calculated using: [(last year/base year)(1 / number of years) –1] x 100.

Geographic coverage: The EU-27 countries are the EU Member States: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom. The EU-25 countries are the EU Member States excluding Bulgaria and Romania. The EU-15 are the EU Member States prior to enlargement (Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxemburg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom). The EU-10 countries are the Member States that acceded to the EU in 2004 (Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia).

Information concerning data quality:
- Advantages and disadvantages of the indicator: The source of basic data is one institution (the Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia, EUROSTAT) for the entire time frame. This enables a higher quality analysis of events in the treated period. We chose the year 1995 as the initial year, in order to enable comparability with the EU-25 data
- Relevance, accuracy, robustness, uncertainty:
Reliability of the indicator (archival data): Energy intensity calculated using GDP in constant prices is appropriate for time comparisons of energy intensity, while energy intensity calculated using GDP in PPS is more appropriate for cross-country comparisons. PPS are currency conversion rates that convert GDP data to a common currency and equalise the purchasing power of different currencies.
Uncertainty of the indicator (scenarios/projections): scenarios and projections are not available.
- Overall assessment (1 = no major comments, 2 = data to be considered with reservation):
Relevance: 1
Accuracy: 2
Completeness over time: 2
Completeness over space: 1

Other sources and literature:

- COM(2006) 545 final – Action Plan for Energy Efficiency: Realising the Potential, European Commission.
- EEA, 2007. EN17 Total Energy Intensity.
- Ministry of the Environment and Spatial Planning, 2008. Nacionalni akcijski načrt za energetsko učinkovitost za obdobje 2008-2016 (National Energy Efficiency Action Plan for the 2008-2016 period).
- Institute of Macroeconomic Analysis and Development, 2010. Development Report 2010.