96 L. ŽIVČIČ AND T. TKALEC
poverty, SECIs provide recommendations to decision-makers on how to
proceed in dealing with these issues.
Keywords Slovenia · Energy poverty · Community energy projects ·
Energy policy · Sustainable energy initiatives
introDuCtion
Slovenia has a small energy sector, with final energy consumption in
2017 of 4.92 Mtoe (57,242 GWh). oil (45%) is the main energy source,
followed by electricity (24%), renewables (14%), natural gas (12%), heat
(4%) and solid fuels (1%) (SURS 2018). Electricity generation can be
divided into three parts—hydropower (38%), nuclear power (37%) and
thermal power (22%)—that vary slightly from year to year because of
weather conditions and the amount of rainfall, which influences generation in hydropower plants. The biggest share of thermal power comes
from one coal-fired plant (lignite). Renewables contribute only a small
share of electricity generation, with solar accounting for less than 2%,
and even less wind energy (0.02%) (ARSo 2015). Slovenian energy independence in 2017 was 52%.
Even though the EU is one of the most developed areas in the world,
between 50 and 125 million EU citizens are estimated to be energy
poor. The situation is most severe in the Eastern Europe Member States,
including Slovenia. In the majority of the new Member States, up to
30%, or even more, of households are struggling with energy poverty.
Following a brief overview of household energy use and energy policy
in Slovenia, this chapter presents details of a sustainable energy initiative that aimed to alleviate energy poverty in Slovenia and neighbouring
countries.
soCio-materiaL DynamiCs of househoLD
energy use in sLovenia
Future growth in electricity consumption must be considered given the
expansion of air conditioning and electric vehicles. Energy efficiency
measures, in particular insulation of multi-apartment buildings and
family houses, serve as a counterbalance to these increases. However,
improvements in thermal insulation are usually concentrated in the
poverty, SECIs provide recommendations to decision-makers on how to
proceed in dealing with these issues.
Keywords Slovenia · Energy poverty · Community energy projects ·
Energy policy · Sustainable energy initiatives
introDuCtion
Slovenia has a small energy sector, with final energy consumption in
2017 of 4.92 Mtoe (57,242 GWh). oil (45%) is the main energy source,
followed by electricity (24%), renewables (14%), natural gas (12%), heat
(4%) and solid fuels (1%) (SURS 2018). Electricity generation can be
divided into three parts—hydropower (38%), nuclear power (37%) and
thermal power (22%)—that vary slightly from year to year because of
weather conditions and the amount of rainfall, which influences generation in hydropower plants. The biggest share of thermal power comes
from one coal-fired plant (lignite). Renewables contribute only a small
share of electricity generation, with solar accounting for less than 2%,
and even less wind energy (0.02%) (ARSo 2015). Slovenian energy independence in 2017 was 52%.
Even though the EU is one of the most developed areas in the world,
between 50 and 125 million EU citizens are estimated to be energy
poor. The situation is most severe in the Eastern Europe Member States,
including Slovenia. In the majority of the new Member States, up to
30%, or even more, of households are struggling with energy poverty.
Following a brief overview of household energy use and energy policy
in Slovenia, this chapter presents details of a sustainable energy initiative that aimed to alleviate energy poverty in Slovenia and neighbouring
countries.
soCio-materiaL DynamiCs of househoLD
energy use in sLovenia
Future growth in electricity consumption must be considered given the
expansion of air conditioning and electric vehicles. Energy efficiency
measures, in particular insulation of multi-apartment buildings and
family houses, serve as a counterbalance to these increases. However,
improvements in thermal insulation are usually concentrated in the