Renewable Energy Sources in Slovenia: Facts and Plans

As amember of the EuropeanUnion, Slovenia follows a European energy policy and its objectives of a sustainable, competitive and secure supply of energy. Renewable energy sources (RES) have an important role in the global fight against climate change and are at the same time an important factor for a long-term security of energy supply.With about 11% RES share in the national primary energy balance, Slovenia is still far away from meeting its renewable energy targets. This share is slightly decreasing (12% in the year 2000) in spite of increasing use of RES. The main reason is that RES utilisation is growing slower than the primary energy (electricity) demand. However, with over 54% of the country's land covered with forest, the potential for use of solid biomass is relatively high, but it also depends on application of new utilisation technologies. Nevertheless, this type of renewable energy source has started to penetrate the market, despite many barriers. The most significant RES for electricity production is still hydro power, which in part relies on a large amount of old, small hydro power plants. Their renovation as well as the installation of additional new units is a principal part of Slovenian strategy for use of renewable energy sources.