Energy Balance

Energy

7.342 Mtoe gross inland consumption (2006)   3.415 Mtoe total production of primary energy (2006), thereof 22.5% renewable energy (RE)   52.1 % energy dependency (Net energy imports / Gross consumption )(2006)   771 Mtoe primary production of RE (2006), thereof 59 % is biomass and waste

 

Biomass has started to penetrate the market. In electricity production it is the second largest energy source after hydro energy. Woody biomass is the main renewable energy source (RES) used for heating in Slovenia, with a production of 430 ktoe in 2004. There is high potential to increase solid woody biomass based energy usage in Slovenia due to an extensive forest area. However, harvesting costs are relatively high due to mountainous areas and the fragmentation of forest ownership. This opens opportunities for local coordination and promotion partnerships with municipalities.

 

A limited integrated national strategy for bioenergy promotion has been defined linking targets with a development road map and programme of activities established. National support instruments for bioenergy include: feed-in tariffs (rather than a quota system); subsidies using a tender scheme by the Agency for Energy Efficiency and RES; credit schemes; and attractive conditions for private households (basically giving back the Value Added Tax).

 

A coherent and systematic approach to the development of bioenergy has been in place since 2006. At the national level, the proposed Slovenian Wood Energy Strategy, based on Slovenia Wood Energy Information System (SWEIS) and WISDOM data provides a web-based geographical system for RES potential, realised over the country, including agricultural data.   Slovenian Wood Energy Strategy represents the main reference for the inclusion of wood energy components in the National Forestry Programme and in the National Programme for Rural Development. Field activities are now oriented to the promotion of woody biomass harvesting in private forests. These include the promotion of forest owners associations, extension, training of forest owners and SFS Staff on new technologies and other specific wood energy aspects. In response to the growing interest on bioenergy in the country, a thematic internet portal provides easy access to state-of-the-art information on all aspects of woody biomass at municipal level.