9 SLoVENIA: FoCUS oN ENERGY EFFICIENCY, CoMMUNITY …
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better-off sectors of the population, while the less well-off are less able
to invest in improving energy efficiency of their dwellings. A significant
percentage of households live in energy poverty, primarily because of
low energy efficiency of buildings in combination with high ownership
rates (more than 95% of people live in their own flat or house) and low
incomes. Due to rising prices of heating oil in the last 10 years, there is a
tendency to replace oil for heating with cheaper alternatives. While some
households use heat pumps and gas, an increasing number choose biomass, as wood is the cheapest option. However, the large percentage of
heating with biomass leads to an increasing problem with air pollution.
energy poLiCy in sLovenia
The government has worked on a new national energy concept since the
autumn of 2014, but the programme has not yet been adopted. The current version focuses on keeping the status quo and preparing for changes
in the longer term. Slovenia’s vision for the energy sector is gradually to
transition to low-carbon energy sources by focusing on efficient energy
consumption, use of renewable energy sources (RES) and the development of active electricity-distribution networks. This strategy will likely
envisage a strong reliance on nuclear energy and further development of
hydroelectric power (Export.gov 2017).
While the gas and oil markets are somewhat privatised, electricity production is still in state hands. The major electricity producers in Slovenia,
Holding Slovenske Elektrarne (HSE) and Gen Energija (GEN), are
fully owned by the state of Slovenia. These two companies formed a
single unit until 2001. In recent years, the government has considered
reverting to a single company through the merger of HSE and GEN,
as HSE did not have the necessary financing for the construction of a
new coal-fired generator at the Šoštanj Thermal Power Plant (TEŠ 6).
Nonetheless, construction on the TEŠ 6 project continued despite concerns about its cost, commercial feasibility, environmental impact and
the perceived lack of transparency surrounding the project. Despite these
concerns, the government of Slovenia provided the necessary loan guarantees to finish the project, and TEŠ 6 went on-line in 2015 (Export.gov
2017). There is still no definite answer about the timing of closure of the
coal power plant TEŠ, as its life expectancy until 2054 is not likely to be
met because of economic and environmental reasons.
97
better-off sectors of the population, while the less well-off are less able
to invest in improving energy efficiency of their dwellings. A significant
percentage of households live in energy poverty, primarily because of
low energy efficiency of buildings in combination with high ownership
rates (more than 95% of people live in their own flat or house) and low
incomes. Due to rising prices of heating oil in the last 10 years, there is a
tendency to replace oil for heating with cheaper alternatives. While some
households use heat pumps and gas, an increasing number choose biomass, as wood is the cheapest option. However, the large percentage of
heating with biomass leads to an increasing problem with air pollution.
energy poLiCy in sLovenia
The government has worked on a new national energy concept since the
autumn of 2014, but the programme has not yet been adopted. The current version focuses on keeping the status quo and preparing for changes
in the longer term. Slovenia’s vision for the energy sector is gradually to
transition to low-carbon energy sources by focusing on efficient energy
consumption, use of renewable energy sources (RES) and the development of active electricity-distribution networks. This strategy will likely
envisage a strong reliance on nuclear energy and further development of
hydroelectric power (Export.gov 2017).
While the gas and oil markets are somewhat privatised, electricity production is still in state hands. The major electricity producers in Slovenia,
Holding Slovenske Elektrarne (HSE) and Gen Energija (GEN), are
fully owned by the state of Slovenia. These two companies formed a
single unit until 2001. In recent years, the government has considered
reverting to a single company through the merger of HSE and GEN,
as HSE did not have the necessary financing for the construction of a
new coal-fired generator at the Šoštanj Thermal Power Plant (TEŠ 6).
Nonetheless, construction on the TEŠ 6 project continued despite concerns about its cost, commercial feasibility, environmental impact and
the perceived lack of transparency surrounding the project. Despite these
concerns, the government of Slovenia provided the necessary loan guarantees to finish the project, and TEŠ 6 went on-line in 2015 (Export.gov
2017). There is still no definite answer about the timing of closure of the
coal power plant TEŠ, as its life expectancy until 2054 is not likely to be
met because of economic and environmental reasons.