Solid biomass in
Slovenia
The Resolution on the National Energy Programme (ReNEP) adopted by the
National Assembly in 2004, defines long-term development goals of energy demand
and supply, security of supply, competitiveness of energy markets and
sustainability. The target of Slovenian policy defined in the Resolution on the
National Energy Programme (ReNEP) was to: (a) increase the share of RES in the
primary energy balance to 12% in 2010, (b) increase heat supply from RES from 22% in 2002 to 25%
in 2010, (c) increase
electricity production from RES from 32% in 2002 to 33.6% in 2010. A
new National Energy Programme with new long-term
goals is in progress.
The
Energy Act sets priority to renewable energy before supplying energy from
non-renewable energy resources. It also defines also that the energy policy is
orientated toward renewable energy resources by ensuring appropriate measures
and support mechanisms.
Since 2002 the main support
mechanism for RES electricity has been feed-in.
In July 2007 Slovenian parliament adopted the changes and the modification of
Energy Act (70/2008) primarily in chapters dealing with the electricity from
RES and from cogeneration which led to the modification of the scheme in 2009.
Under the current support system RES electricity is promoted by:
(a) feed-in tariffs (guaranteed purchase) for RES plants up to 5
MW and CHP plants up to 1 MW. Operators can choose between feed-in tariff and
feed-in premium.
(b) feed-in premium (operation support) only
for RES plants above 5 MW and CHP plants above 1 MW.
Eligible technologies are biomass,
biogas, wind, solar, geothermal, hydro, biodegradable waste plants up to 125 MW
capacity. Support is provided for 15 years.
RES
are also supported through investment grants
and subsidies:
(1) Subsidies
for households are provided by Eco fund
since 2010 for solar collectors, biomass boilers, and for district heating
systems on biomass.
(2) Grants
for investment projects in the field of energy efficiency, renewable energy and
distribution of energy (heat) are awarded by Ministry of the Economy. The
maximum support for household is set to 50% of eligible investment. The maximum
support for public sector is 75% of eligible cost of projects. All RES
technologies are eligible for promotion. Call for applications are set on a
yearly basis. Subsidies are granted on the basis of a selective procedure.
The Eco Fund assigns soft loans to
specific RES technologies.
Since 2008 a
new building regulation on energy
efficiency defines obligation that minimum 25% use of the total energy use
has to be covered by RES. This applies to new buildings (residential and
non-residential) as well as to buildings under a major renovation.
Renewable
energy projections according to the National Renewable Energy Action Plan for
Slovenia
According to Directive 2009/28/EC the target in 2020
indicates 25% of renewables in the gross consumption
of final energy. The National Renewable Energy Action Plan (NREAP) for
Slovenia was submitted in June 2010. The target according to Annex I of Directive 2009/28/EC is 25%
for the year 2020 and the projected NREAP share in that year is 25.3%.
The RES target according to the National
Renewable Energy Action Plan (NREAP) of Slovenia is to achieve 1,344 ktoe of RES in final energy consumption in 2020.
According to the projection, the most important
contribution in the year 2020 is expected from biomass for heating and cooling
(309 GWh of electricity and 526 ktoe of heat, or 41% of all
renewable energy). The second important contribution is expected from
hydropower (5,121 GWh or 440 ktoe, 33% of all renewable energy). The wind power
contributes with 106 MW (191 GWh) in the year 2020. For solar photovoltaic the
2020 contribution is projected to be 139 MW (139 GWh). For solar thermal the
2020 contribution is projected to be 21 ktoe. The two most important biofuels
are projected to contribute 174 ktoe (biodiesel) and 19 ktoe (bioethanol /
bio-ETBE) by 2020. The renewable electricity production from solid biomass
amounts to 309 GWh (27 ktoe) and for biogas it is expected to be 367 GWh (32
ktoe).
Renewable heating and electricity:
solid biomass
The solid biomass is supported
through investment grants and
subsidies. The support is assigned by the Ministry
of Economy (Sector for Efficient Use and Renewable Energy Sources) and Eco
Fund.
The direct financing support (subsidies) for households is assigned by
Eco Fund and is available for individual heating systems using wood (boilers on
wood biomass). The subsidy for households is 25% of the eligible investment
costs.
The financial support (subsidy) for investments in large and micro
district heating systems using biomass (wood) is assigned by the Ministry of
Economy (from Cohesion fund). The subsidy is determined in accordance with the
rules of state aid, amounting to 30 - 50% of the eligible investment costs.
The Eco Fund assigns soft loans to biomass technologies.
In 2009 the Slovenian government
adopted two decrees on support for electricity generated from renewable energy
sources (RES) and in cogeneration (CHP) with high efficiency. The “Decree on Support for Electricity Generated from Renewable Energy
Sources” and the “Decree on Support for Electricity Produced in High-Efficiency Cogeneration” adopted by the Government in
2009 regulate the level and duration of the necessary
support for all RES and CHP technologies relative to the size and
technology.
Producers of electricity
from renewable sources with capacity Q<5MW may choose between a guaranteed
feed-in tariff and a premium, while producers with capacity Q>5MW are
eligible only for a premium on top of the electricity price achieved on the
market.
The
guaranteed feed-in tariffs and premiums for the electricity from solid biomass
(wood) in 2011 are shown in table below (Table 1a and Table 1b).
Table 1: The 2011 guaranteed feed-in tariffs and premiums
for the electricity from solid biomass (wood) in Slovenia
a)
According to the regulation on support for electricity generated from
RES
|
2011 |
Capacity |
Feed-in tariff (EUR/MWh) |
Premium (EUR/MWh) |
|
Wood (over 90%) |
less than 50kW |
(support is set individually) |
(support is set individually) |
|
>50 kW<1MW |
233.79 |
185.44 |
|
|
From 1MW to 10MW
|
175.30 |
126.42 |
|
|
over 10MW to
125MW |
(support is set individually) |
(support is set individually) |
|
|
Wood - co-firing
(over 5% from biomass) |
less than 50kW |
/ |
63.54 |
|
>50 kW<1MW |
/ |
61.94 |
|
|
From 1MW to 10MW
|
/ |
61.41 |
|
|
over 10MW to
125MW |
/ |
(support is set individually) |
Source: Borzen
b) According to the regulation on support for electricity generated in CHP
with high efficiency
|
2011 |
Up to 4000 hours operation
per year |
Over 4000 hours operation
per year |
||
|
Capacity |
Feed-in tariff |
Premium |
Feed-in tariff |
Premium |
|
|
(EUR/MWh) |
(EUR/MWh) |
||
|
less than 50 kW |
(support is set individually) |
(support is set individually) |
(support is set individually) |
(support is set individually) |
|
>50 kW<1 MW |
327.45 |
285.01 |
220.80 |
176.23 |
|
From 1 MW
to 5 MW |
/ |
208.08 |
/ |
127.09 |
|
From 5 MW
to 25 MW |
/ |
141.79 |
/ |
83.35 |
|
From 25 MW
to 50 MW |
/ |
109.04 |
/ |
62.30 |
|
over 50 MW to
200 MW |
/ |
(support is set
individually) |
/ |
(support is set
individually) |
Future programme changes
expected
A new Energy Act is in progress. A new National
Energy Programme is in progress.
Sources
[1]
Directive 2009/28/EC of the European Parlimant and of the
Council of 23 April 2009 on the promotion of the use of energy from
renewable sources and amending and subsequently repealing Directives 2001/77/EC
and 2003/30/EC
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2009:140:0016:0062:en:PDF
[2] ReNEP: http://www.uradni-list.si/1/objava.jsp?urlid=200457&stevilka=2669
[3] Eco Fund: http://www.ekosklad.si/
[4] Energy Act: http://www.uradni-list.si/1/objava.jsp?urlid=200727&stevilka=1351
[5] Support scheme/Feed in tariff 2009: http://www.uradni-list.si/1/objava.jsp?urlid=200937&stevilka=1780
[6] GEF project: http://www.aure.si/index.php?MenuID=114&MenuType=E&lang=SLO&navigacija=on
[7] Feed in tariff 2002: http://www.uradni-list.si/1/objava.jsp?urlid=200225&stevilka=1107
[8] The resolution on national energy program (ReNEP), Official Journal of the
Republic of Slovenia No 57/2004(http://www.uradni-list.si/1/objava.jsp?urlid=200457&stevilka=2669)
[9]
The National Renewable Energy Action Plan 2010-2020 (NREAP), July 2010 (http://ec.europa.eu/energy/renewables/transparency_platform/doc/national_renewable_energy_action_plan_slovenia_en.pdf)
[11] Decree on the Rules for Setting prices and for purchasing electricity from
qualified electricity producers: Official Journal of the Republic of Slovenia
No 25/2002
[13]
Regulation on supports for the electricity generated from
renewable energy sources, Official Journal of the Republic of Slovenia No
37/2009, last amendment 43/2011
http://www.uradni-list.si/1/objava.jsp?urlid=200937&stevilka=1780
[14] Regulation on supports for the electricity generated in cogeneration with
high efficiency, Official Journal of the Republic of Slovenia No 37/2009,
last amendment 81/2010,
http://www.uradni-list.si/1/objava.jsp?urlid=200937&stevilka=1779
[15] Borzen, The current (2011) guaranteed purchase price and operation support
for the electricity from RES: http://www.borzen.si/si/cp/Shared%20Documents/Podpore2011_v26jul2011.pdf
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