Wind energy in Slovenia

General

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 2001 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. Operators can choose between feed-in tariff and feed-in premium.

(b) feed-in premium (operation support) only for RES plants above 5 MW.

The target according to the National Renewable Energy Action Plan (NREAP) of Slovenia is to achieve 25.3% RES share of final energy consumption in 2020. The contribution of wind power according to the projection of NREAP is 106 MW (191 GWh) in the year 2020.

Renewable electricity: wind

The promotion of the efficient use of energy resources and utilization of renewable resources have a priority before supplying energy from non-renewable resources as defined in the Energy Act.

Energy Act defines that the promotion of the efficient use of energy resources and utilization of renewable resources is a part of the Slovenian energy policy. Energy Act defines also that the energy policy, through appropriate measures, ensures the use of renewable energy resources and the selection of energy resources considering the environmental protection.

Ecological Fund (Eco Fund) supported the investment in electricity production from renewable sources. The financial support of the Eco Fund is in form of a suitable loan (soft loans) for the investment in projects for energy utilization of renewable sources.

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-EfficiencyCogeneration” adopted by the Government in 2009 regulate the level and duration of the necessary support for all RES and CHP technologiesrelative to the size and technology.

Producers ofelectricity 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 produced in wind plant or plants using wind energy are shown in table below (Table 1).

Table 1: Operating support for electricity produced by RES generating plants using wind energy in 2010, 2011 and 2012

Plants	Size category of a generating plant	¸¸Guaranteed purchase price [EUR/MWh]			Operating support [EUR/MWh]
		2010	2011	2012	2010	2011	2012
Wind	micro (< 50 kW)	95,38			52,65	52,88	50,75
	small (< 1 MW)
	medium up to 10 MW
	large up to 125 MW	/			40,81	40,05	38,76

Future programme changes expected

 A new Energy Act is in progress. A new National Energy Programme is in progress.

Sources

· ReNEP: http://www.uradni-list.si/1/objava.jsp?urlid=200457&stevilka=2669

· MESP: http://www.mop.gov.si/si/delovna_podrocja/direktorat_za_evropske_zadeve_in_investicije/aure/

· AURE: http://www.aure.si/

· Eco Fund: http://www.ekosklad.si/

· Energy Act: http://www.uradni-list.si/1/objava.jsp?urlid=200727&stevilka=1351

· Feed in tariff 2002: http://www.uradni-list.si/1/objava.jsp?urlid=200225&stevilka=1107

· Decree on Support for Electricity Generated from Renewable Energy Sources (Feed in tariff 2009):http://www.uradni-list.si/1/objava.jsp?urlid=200937&stevilka=1780

Decree on the requirements to be met for obtaining the status of a qualified electricity producer:

· http://zakonodaja.gov.si/rpsi/r09/predpis_URED1039.html

· Report about the implementation progress of Slovenia for Directive 2001/77/EC on Electricity Production from Renewable Energy Sources:

· http://www.mg.gov.si/fileadmin/mg.gov.si/pageuploads/Energetika/OVE_-porocilo_RS.pdf

· http://ec.europa.eu/energy/res/legislation/doc/electricity/member_states/2006/slovenia_sl.pdf

· Determining of the level ofsupportfor electricityproduced fromrenewablesandCHP,andthelevel of supportinyear2012: http://www.borzen.si/en/CP/SitePages/3_10.aspx

Interactive EurObserv’ER Database

http://www.eurobserv-er.org

Last update: March 2012

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