RES in energy) and Croatia (20 % RES in energy) (Eurostat, 2012). The aim of our paper is to compare usage of the renewable sources for electricity generation ...
Dario Maradin University of Rijeka, Faculty of Economics, Rijeka, Croatia Nina Ponikvar University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Economics, Ljubljana, Slovenia Ljerka Cerović University of Rijeka, Faculty of Economics, Rijeka, Croatia
RENEWABLE ELECTRICITY IN CROATIA AND SLOVENIA FROM THE ASPECT OF THE EU ENERGY AND CLIMATE TARGETS FOR 20201
ABSTRACT Analyses show that in the EU the share of the renewable electricity could be around 35 percent in 2020. In this paper we focus on Croatia and Slovenia, the former becoming the 28th member state of the EU on July 1, 2013 and the latter being EU member state since 2004. The aim of our paper is to analyse how Croatia and Slovenia use different renewable sources in their electricity generation and to evaluate the extent at which both countries are achieving and/or will be able to achieve their 2020 targets in this field. In the recent years Croatia has made great movements in the use of wind power, which currently has the largest share of electricity generation from RES. Biomass and hydropower energy are used in equal proportion whereat biomass has great potential to become the most important RES by 2020. Further expansion of existing generating capacity, particularly a large using of solar energy, it is expected that Croatia could achieve the set target for 2020. We establish that favourable natural conditions and efficient energy policy measures allowed Slovenia to make notable progress in the usage of solar power, biomass and biogass in electricity generation, while large unused potentials remain for the usage of wind power and some for hydro power on the Sava river. We argue that these available RES potentials make Slovenia able to reach and perhaps even surpass the 2020 target. Keywords: renewable electricity, Croatia, Slovenia, generation JEL classification: D24, Q28, Q42, Q47
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The presented results are part of research projects (Economic impacts of regulatory reforms in electricity sector, No. 081-0361557-1455), supported by the Ministry of Science, Education and Sports of the Republic of Croatia.
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1.
INTRODUCTION
In the recent decades, several reasons for the public support of the generation of electricity from the renewable sources have been put forward. Besides socioeconomic reasons such as job creation, energy diversification, security and stability, the environmental motives in the form of pollution externalities from conventional energy sources have been the main argument for promoting electricity generation from solar, wind, and other renewable sources. The European Union has the target to increase the share of renewable energy sources in its gross final consumption of energy to 20% by 2020. Besides electricity, primary energy consumption includes heating, cooling, and transportation. Increasing renewable sources in transportation is more costly than in electricity generation, and hence the share of renewable energy sources in electricity generation is likely to be significantly higher than 20%. It has been estimated, that the RES share in electricity sector could be around 35% in 2020. On the global level the renewable electricity production amounted to 19.6 percent of the global electricity production already in 2010 (Observ’ER, 2012). Currently, each member state of the EU has a separate support scheme for renewable electricity policy stimulation that is a part of National Renewable Energy Action Plans while data on electricity production across member states exhibits substantial differences in the usage in the renewables. In this paper we focus on Croatia and Slovenia, both countries that had been a part of the former Yugoslav federation and gained its sovereignty in 1991. The first decade of sovereignty of both countries was characterized by the economic transition. However, they parted economically in 2004, when Slovenia became a member of the EU. Croatia is set to become the 28th member state of the EU on July 1, 2013. Both countries have favourable natural potential for RES usage. Therefore relatively high target shares of renewables in energy as well as in electricity generation have been set for Slovenia (25 % RES in energy) and Croatia (20 % RES in energy) (Eurostat, 2012). The aim of our paper is to compare usage of the renewable sources for electricity generation between Croatia and Slovenia and to evaluate the rate at which both countries are (will be able to achieve) achieving their 2020 goals. For both countries we therefore analyse the current usage of the renewable sources for electricity generation. Further, we investigate the growth in the quantity of the electricity from renewable sources in the 2007-2011 period. Both the current state and the dynamics of the electricity from renewable sources are then evaluated in the light of the set energy targets for 2020 and the relative position of the analysed countries is assessed within the comparison of Croatia and Slovenia other EU member states. Our analysis is based on data available from Eurostat and from national data sources such as Agency for Energy of the Republic of Slovenia, Statistical Office of Slovenia and Annual energy report of Croatia. The reminder of the paper is organised as follows. In the next section we describe the renewable electricity regulatory framework in the EU, Slovenia and Croatia. In section 3 we show the structure and dynamics of the electricity generation from the renewable resources in the 2007-2011 period for Croatia and in section 4 for Slovenia, while in
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section 5 we compare the relative importance of the renewables in electricity generation in both countries. We further compare the countries’ achievements with their targets for 2020. In section 6 we conclude and discuss policy implications of our findings.
2.
REGULATORY FRAMEWORK IN THE EU, SLOVENIA AND CROATIA
Electricity is a vital service in the economy; it is an input in the production of nearly all other goods and services, and it is also an important final good, consumed by households. Lately, besides energy security, price stability, and job creation, the pollution externalities from conventional energy sources have been the main argument for promoting electricity generation from solar, wind, and other renewable sources (Observer, 2012). The European Union (EU) has set ambitious energy and climate targets for 2020 within the Directive 2009/28/EC, called also the „second Renewables Directive“ (Official Journal of the European Union, 2009). It requires to reach 20 percent share of energy from renewable energy sources (RES) in gross final energy consumption and 35 percent share of RES in electricity generation by 2020 (Nicolosi and Fuersch, 2009). This Directive was adopted by the EU Parliament in December 2008, but passed into legislation in April 2009. The Renewables Directive defines the RES targets for all individual member states. These targets have been set by the European Commission with consideration of the 2005 RES share and additional elements. For example, the largest share of renewables has been set for Sweden (49 %) and Latvia (40 %). Malta (10 %) and Luxembourg (11 %) have the lowest RES targets for 2020 (Eurostat, 2012). In 2010, member states had to submit National Renewable Energy Action Plans, outlining how they would reach their national targets under the overall 20 percent goal (Eurelectric, 2011). The allocation of renewable shares between the electricity and other energy activities like heating, cooling as well as transport sectors is the responsibility of the individual member states (Nicolosi and Fuersch, 2009). In these plans, member states set out sectoral targets, the technology mix they expect to use, the reforms and measures they will undertake to overcome the barriers to developing renewable energy. According to their forecast documents, it is expected that at least ten member states will have a surplus in 2020 compared to their binding target for the share of renewable energy in their final energy consumption. Additional twelve member states will probably meet their goals and just five countries are predicted to miss their targets using domestic RES alone (European Commission, 2009). The current Slovenian National Energy Programme was adopted in 2004 and defines long-term development goals of energy demand and supply, security of supply, competitiveness of energy markets and sustainability. 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. Accordingly, the target of Slovenian policy is to increase electricity generation from RES from 32% in 2002 to 39.3% by 2020. A new National Energy Programme with new long-term goals for 2030 is however in progress and is expected for the first half of 2013. The Energy Act sets priority to renewable energy before supplying energy from non-renewable energy resources. It also defines, that the energy policy is orientated toward renewable energy
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resources by ensuring appropriate measures and support mechanisms. Under the current support system RES electricity is promoted by feed-in tariffs (guaranteed purchase) for RES plants up to 5 MW. Operators can choose between feed-in tariff and feed-in premium. RES plants above 5 MW receive feed in premiums (operation support). The view of the status and further development of the Croatian electricity sector can be observed within certain laws and documents, primarily the Energy Sector Development Strategy. In previous years, several energy programs and strategies were published whereby as early as in 1998 the Energy Sector Development Strategy of the Republic of Croatia envisages the objectives and policies on the use of renewable energy sources (RES) as well as other aspects of energy and economic development (Granić et.al 1998). In 2002, a new Energy Sector Development Strategy which strategically supports the use and development of new, clean and efficient renewable energy technologies was established. This consequently seeks to achieve diversification of the forms of energy and energy resources, i.e. resources and technologies of electricity generation, but also to realize the positive impact of renewable sources on the environment (Narodne novine, 2002). The near accession of Croatia to the EU and the simultaneous ratification and acceptance of the agreement about Energy Community in June 2006 and the Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in April 2007, resulted in the adoption of new Energy Sector Development Strategy of the Republic of Croatia in 2009. The above mentioned strategy is planned for the period up to 2020 in order to align with the goals and the timeframe of the EU strategic documents. Since the objective of the Strategy is building a sustainable energy system, the increase of investments and use of RES is directly emphasized (Narodne novine, 2009). In accordance with the methodology prescribed by Directive 2009/28/EC on the promotion of use of RES, Croatia set a goal that the share of total final energy consumption from renewable energy sources in total final power consumption will be 20 percent by 2020. Building on that goal, it is determined that the share of electricity generated from renewable energy sources, including large power plants, in total power consumption will amount to 35 percent (Ministarstvo gospodarstva, rada i poduzetništva, 2010). The development and application of RES is a measure which is contributing to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, but also a measure which increases the security of supply by using different energy forms and sources, and is essential for creating incentives for local economy development. Croatia thus chooses to focus on the exploitation of renewable energy sources in accordance with the principles of sustainable development.
3.
ELECTRICITY FROM THE RENEWABLE SOURCES IN CROATIA
The use of renewable energy sources for electricity generation in Croatia is based solely on hydropower, followed wind energy and bioenergy, and a small share of solar energy. Geothermal energy is not used in the production of electricity, but only thermal energy. Figure 1 shows the structure of the RES electricity by source in Croatia in 2007 and 2011. The piecharts would suggest a large structural change in the usage of different
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RES in electricity generation in the analysed period. In 2007 small hydropower energy represented the largest share of RES with more than 60 percent, while four years later, wind energy have had almost equal share. Extensive utilization of wind energy can indicate by the fact that the production of electricity from wind power was higher in 2011 (201 GWh), than the production of electricity from all renewables together in 2007. Figure 1: Electricity from RES in Croatia in 2007 and 2011 by source
Source: Energy in Croatia 2007, Energy in Croatia 2011
It is believed that at the present stage of technological development, hydropower represents the most important source of all renewable sources, and the only one that is competitive to fossil energy sources and nuclear energy. However, all forms of hydropower are not supposed to be renewable. In relation to how much power they produce, hydropower plants are divided basically into small and large plants. Large hydropower plants require construction of hydroelectric dams which cause negative effects and damages due to changes of the entire ecosystem which is why they do not really count as RES when "recent" newer RES are mentioned. The commonly accepted value for small hydropower plants is installed capacity of up to 10 MW (Paish, 2002), and this specific value is taken as relevant and accepted in Croatia, although large hydropower plants are also taken into account as a "renewable" source of energy. In linking water with energy production structure of the Croatian electricity system, it should be noted that more than 50 percent of all manufacturing facilities and power plants are hydroelectric power plants (http://www.hep.hr/proizvodnja/osnovni/ hidroelektrane/default.aspx). Therefore, Croatia has favorable hydrological conditions, and belongs to the leading countries in terms of electricity generation from RES. For example, in 2010, due to the very good hydrological conditions, the share of electricity generated from RES, including large hydropower plants, accounted for 45.1 percent, while during 2011, that share due to the very dry hydrological year, only accounted for 25.6 percent (Eurostat, 2013). Croatia actually has a relatively small number of small hydroelectric power plants, that participated with 20.82 percent, or 67 GWh in the total production of electricity from renewable sources in 2011. There are 22 small hydropower plants, with the total installed capacity of about 30 MW, that can be divided into those that are the part of HEP group 2 and those that are in private 2
HEP group (Croatian Electricity Company, croatian language „Hrvatska elektroprivreda“) is a concern that operates with electric power activities (generation, transmission, distribution and supply of electricity) and other energy operations, and owns a company HEP Renewable Energy Sources.
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ownership (Energy in Croatia, 2011). A certain number of small hydropower plants are a part of large hydropower, i.e. complex hydroelectric system, so therefore they are not observed separately in the capacity of power and energy and it is very difficult to access their individual indicators. They exploit the remaining flows of water that large hydropower cannot use in the production of electricity (Bašić, 2010). Besides hydropower energy, the most promising RES technology is wind energy. Both in the EU and in Croatia, wind power represents the most advanced renewable technology, which is available at a large scale. This is confirmed by the fact that in 2009 and 2010 the EU installed more wind power plants than any other power plant types or sources of electricity (Međimorec, 2010). Since renewable energy and wind farms themselves are of great importance, it is anticipated that they may become competitive with other technologies in electricity production. This primarily implies thermal power plants which are largely polluting the environment with greenhouse gases. In Croatia, the first wind farm began to work in 2004 (Jerkić, 2010). Out of total electricity produced from renewable sources, as much as 62.38 percent it was produced from wind energy in 2011. In absolute terms this amounted to 201 GWh. (Energy in Croatia, 2011). Thus wind farms are by far the leading electricity generation from RES. Currently in Croatia, 9 wind farms are in operation with total installed power of 140 MW and two more wind farms are operating in the test run, with power of 64 MW (http://www.hep.hr/ops/usluge/sustav/VE_u_pogonu_i_sa_sklopljenim_UOP_om_02_ 2013.pdf). Although the presented list projects of wind power plants that will be built in the future and connected to the electric grid of approximately 200 MW, Croatia still needs to build an additional 800 MW of wind power plants if the goals of using RES by 2020 year want to be achieved (Jerkić, 2012). According to the Register of renewable energy sources and cogeneration (reported over 4000 MW of wind farm projects until now), planned wind farms are located on islands and coastal areas of Croatia, mostly in the south, because a very good wind potential is present there (Ministarstvo gospodarstva, rada i poduzetništva, 2013). A large number of sites are located in the Dalmatian hinterland, in demographically devastated and economically deprived areas (Međimorec, 2010). As a profitable and fast-growing technology, wind power plants would certainly stimulate the local economy, but also the national economy, either during the construction of buildings, either during any subsequent maintenance and development of electricity infrastructure and a number of linked manufacturing and service industries. The following RES that is significantly present in Croatia and has great potential is bioenergy, i.e. energy generated from biomass. Biomass can be considered as a strategic resource because not only is it renewable, but it is also available everywhere, it can be stored and also it may raise benefits for the environment and for socioeconomic development, particularly in a rural areas. It should be noted that the use of biomass primarily gives thermal energy, and only secondarily electricity. However, cogeneration plants, which simultaneously produce thermal energy and electricity, today represent the most significant way of electricity production from biomass (Šilić et.al 2004). Croatia has a great forest potential for electricity generation with almost 45 percent of forest land. Out of biomass of different origin, there is a significant share of agriculture, livestock and even wine growing and numerous wood processing activities that can be used for energy production (Šljivac and Šimić, 2009). The timber industry
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should not forget the great potential of wood residues, i.e. wood waste available for energy use. It is believed that wood waste and firewood are a major source of biomass (Coenraads et.al 2008). In Croatia, the utilization of biomass as a RES is primarily used for the generation of thermal energy and biofuels, but in 2011, in the total production of electricity from all RES, also 16.76 percent (54 GWh) of electricity was produced from biomass (Energy in Croatia, 2011). It can be concluded that the conditions for the increased electricity generation from biomass are favorable and promising, and the ways of exploiting and the essential technology are known. Recently, the interest in this source of energy has increased, new projects are initiated and the existing plants are being renewed. However, it can be concluded that biomass does not significantly affect electricity generation and that it has not yet taken an important place in the energy policy of Croatia. In Croatia, solar energy, with apparently great potential with respect to the number of sun hours a year, is still in the initial stage of development. Electricity production from photovoltaic energy systems is negligible with a very slow growth of this renewable energy technologies. According to data available from the Overview of projects registered in the Register of renewable energy sources and cogeneration and eligible producers are registered solar (photovoltaic) power plants up to 87 MW (Ministarstvo gospodarstva, rada i poduzetništva, 2013). By the beginning of 2013, the signed contracts on the purchase of electricity from solar energy are worth only a few hundred kW, meaning 0 MW, but according to the above mentioned Register, an installation of more solar panels can be expected in the near future (Hrvatski operator tržišta energije, 2013). The fact that only 0.04 percent of electricity is generated from solar energy of all RES, i.e. a small number of 137 MWh, illustrates that energy generation from solar energy is negligible in Croatia (Energy in Croatia, 2011). Although solar power is one of the most accessible forms of RES due to the possibility of the use of technology, reasonable price, which will eventually reduce even more, and the geographical distribution of energy in Croatia, significant financial investments and incentives, along with a favorable legal framework, are essential in Croatia, in order to create conditions for the development of solar technology market.
4.
ELECTRICITY FROM THE RENEWABLE SOURCES IN SLOVENIA
In Slovenia, the same as in Croatia, renewable energy sources for electricity generation are primarily based on hydropower energy. However, with the exception of large hydroelectric plants, by observing only small hydro plants, wood and other biomass constitute a significant proportion of RES. The solar energy represents a relatively small share in electricity production. Wind energy and geothermal energy in Slovenia are not specially analyzed, because their production capacities are very small. The first wind turbine with capacity of 2.3 MW was installed in October 2012. Figure 2, presenting the structure of the RES electricity by source in Slovenia in 2007 and 2011, shows that the relative importance of particular types of RES has changed in the analysed period. The position of the hydroelectricity became relatively less significant, while biomass, bio gas and especially solar sources of electricity generation gained more importance.
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Figure 2: Electricity from RES in Slovenia in 2007 and 2011 by source
Source: Statistical office of the Republic of Slovenia, 2012
By observing the share of electricity generated from RES, an interconnection between Slovenia and Croatia can be noticed. It can be inferred from the geographical location and common climate surroundings because both countries in large part exploit hydro energy for electricity generation. In 2011, Slovenia had an almost identical share of electricity generated from RES (including large hydro plants) as Croatia. Due to poor hydrological conditions in 2011, the stated share was 26.2 percent. In the previous 2010, due to high river water level, electricity generated from RES was higher in Slovenia, and amounted to 33.1 percent (Eurostat, 2013). The role and importance of hydropower energy can best be noted in the fact that over 92 percent of electricity from all renewable energy sources was obtained precisely from hydropower (Statistični urad Republike Slovenije, 2012). That share of electricity is so vast because hydropower represents electricity generation from small hydroelectric plants up to 10 MW, and also large hydropower plants and pumping hydro plants. Production and supply of electrical energy from small hydro-electricity power distribution stations in Slovenia, which are owned by the national electricity distribution enterprises, are divided into 36 electricity power plants (Bojnec and Papler, 2012). These small hydroelectric plants, with included national and small private enterprises, represent significant electricity generation if only “newer" RES are considered. In that respect, they contain nearly half of total electricity generation from RES in 2011 or 47.94 percent, or above 290 GWh (Statistični urad Republike Slovenije, 2012). Although in Slovenia hydropower is an important natural potential for energy use, it is largely unused due to which it will be essential to further improve and develop the energy sector in order to achieve the goals envisaged by 2020. Compared to the other EU member states, Slovenia has another good natural potential for the use of RES. It is reported that 54 percent of the landscape is covered by forests, which ranks Slovenia in European summit (Paksoy et.al). Therefore, wood and other hard biomass (organic waste from agricultural and food industry and municipal waste disposal activities) are an important source of primary energy in Slovenia, whereby the increase in their share is one of the priorities of national energy and environmental policy. The use of wood for energy purposes has to be systematically determined on the basis of the estimated effective forest management and the possible use of wood in technical production process with relatively high value added. The use of wood biomass in Slovenia has not been entirely successful so far. The main limitations can be
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found in the dispersed ownership structure, lack of motivation of private owners of forest areas for the use or sale of biomass, exports of logs and other wood biomass, etc. (Regionalna gospodarska komora sjeverne Primorske). Nevertheless, in 2011 Slovenia produced approximately 125 GWh of electricity from wood and other hard biomass. Thereby, biomass represents 20.52 percent of electricity generated from total "newer" RES. If the use of landfill gas, sewage gas and other biogas is added, then the electricity generation amounts to 41.28 percent of RES (Statistični urad Republike Slovenije, 2012). As the largest renewable source, the sun represents an unlimited energy potential equal to no other energy source. Photovoltaics is regarded as one of the fastest growing industry branches in the world and the most acceptable renewable source praised for its economic and price-related competitiveness. In Slovenia, the solar power plants market came to life in 2005 and has been recording about one hundred percent growth in the previous years (Nemac, 2009). The total production of electricity from photovoltaic power systems in 2011 was above 65.5 GWh, i.e. 10.77 percent of RES (Statistični urad Republike Slovenije, 2012). Although by 2020 a slowdown in growth is anticipated, the growth will still be at a relatively high level, the construction of additional solar power plants will certainly contribute to the achievement of goals, but will also enable further development, not only the electricity industry, but also other related manufacturing and service industries.
5.
THE ROLE OF RES IN ELECTRICITY GENERATION IN CROATIA AND SLOVENIA
As shown above, while in the recent years Slovenia has been investing effort to increase the usage of the solar energy for the electricity generation, in Croatia, as well as at the global level, significantly has been increasing the share of wind energy, which currently produces the most quantity of electricity from “newer” RES. In this section we compare the situation in Slovenia and Croatia and observe the dynamics of the RES electricity generation in Croatia and Slovenia during the 2007-2011 period. Table 1 shows the renewable electricity by source, generated in 2007 and in 2011 in Slovenia and Croatia. Table 1: RES Electricity by source in Slovenia and Croatia in years 2007 and 2011
Small hydropower energy Solar energy Biomass Biogas Total
Slovenia (GWh)
Croatia (GWh)
2007
2011
2007
2011
409,7
292,3
83
67,1
0,432 62,7 48,1
65,7 125,1 126,6
0,052 7,02 34,91
0,136 54 201
Small hydropower energy Solar energy Biomass Wind energy
521,0
609,8
124,9
322,2
Total
Source: Statistical office of the Republic of Slovenia, 2012; Energy in Croatia, 2007; Energy in Croatia, 2011
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In Figure 3 we show the relative position of Slovenia and Croatia from the viewpoint of the RES usage in the electricity generation. Both Croatia and Slovenia were in a relatively favourable position compared to the other EU member states in 2011. Figure 3: Shares of the electricity generated from RES in 2011 in the EU member states
Source: Eurostat, 2013
In Figure 4 we further show the extent at which each of the analysed countries has been achieving the 2020 target in 2011. It can be perceived that Croatia and the EU-27 have to achieve an equal share of electricity from renewable sources, which amounted 35% (Ministry of Economy, Labour and Entrepreneurship, 2010). That goal is assumed at the level of the average EU for RES 2020 target, because Croatia does not yet have the National Renewable Energy Action Plan. Although in 2011 the share of electricity generated from renewable sources was only 25%, it is expected that Croatia will reach the 2020 target, primarily due to the inclusion of large hydropower in RES and the relatively high rates of growth in renewable energy sector. Figure 4: Shares of the electricity generated from RES in 2011 in Croatia, Slovenia and the EU compared to 2020 target
Source: Eurostat, 2013
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Similar to the relatively high 2020 target for the share of RES in energy generation, Slovenia has set high goals also in the field of electricity generation. Namely, the 2020 target has been set on 39.3 percent (National Renewable Energy Action Plan 20102020, 2010). It is evident from Figure 4 that in 2011 in Slovenia already more than 26 percent of the consumed electricity has been generated from RES. Yet, this means that in the next nine years, Slovenia will have to increase this share by more than 13 percentage points, which in the circumstances of growing electricity demand means even steeper dynamics in the RES electricity generation.
6.
POLICY IMPLICATIONS AND CONCLUSION
Renewable energy sources represent the key element towards sustainable development of European energy policy. The countries of the EU are one of the global leaders in the development and promoting the use of RES. They have recognized the importance of using RES and the opportunities and benefits that the renewables have in the national economy. In this manner, the EU has set the target of use the RES in electricity sector of around 35% in 2020. Slovenia and Croatia, the current and the future EU member states, have set up an ambitious plan to use RES and they are committed to their implementation. In its energy strategy, Croatia has accepted the basic EU guidelines in electricity area. In the recent years, major steps have made in meeting set goals, especially when it comes to the construction of new wind farms, but there is still a need for further investment and active involvement of all economic and other stakeholders. It is expected that wind farms, due to their competitive technology and advantages in terms of energy utilization, will by 2020 become the most important RES generating capacity in the Croatian electric energy sector. In addition to getting a certain amount of clean electrical power from this source, it also represents a great opportunity to potential improvements and developments within the domestic economy. Besides energy benefits and the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, the RES can also bring economic benefits, if the investment and the use of renewable energy are based on domestic industry and innovation. This is where Croatia should seek for its energy and economic opportunity. In addition to wind farms, it is necessary to additionally build and modernize bioenergy plants primarily due to Croatia’s real potential in wood and other biomass use. It is believed that by 2020, biomass will become the largest single renewable source of energy, primarily thermal and then electrical energy. If this is so, biomass should have an important place in the Croatian energy policy. Although there are a great number of water courses in Croatia, there are certain limitations to the potential construction of small hydroelectric power plants. In most cases, the convenient locations for the construction of such plants are located in the upper reaches, which when Croatia is concerned means that they are sparsely populated and located in inaccessible nature areas, where there is almost no consumption of energy and/or where there’s no quality distribution network. This does not presume significant construction of new small hydropower plants. The generation of electricity from solar energy has not yet been fully realized in Croatia. Regardless the huge potential, there are just individual households or smaller farms exploiting this energy, mainly for their own purposes. Significant use of solar energy as well as other forms of RES in
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realizing energy goals can be achieved through specific measures and incentives. These may involve allocating more financial resources as incentives for using RES, greater investment in the energy infrastructure and RES industry, simplification of administrative procedures for obtaining required permits and other measures. In Slovenia, since 2006 the situation in the field of RES electricity improved to a large extent. A favourable landscape and other natural conditions allowed the country to set ambitious targets and favourable economic conditions enabled economic policy to stimulate economic agents with various support schemes to act to achieve these targets. Important progress has been done in the usage of solar power for electricity generation. A lot has been done in stimulating the usage of the solar power and the data show that energy policy measures were succesfully targeted and applied. Due to landscape that is in more than 50 percent covered by forests, there is still relatively large potential for the increase in the usage of biomass. Yet, wind energy remained almost completely unused although hopefully the environmental restrictions will loosen, providing the opportunities for exploitation of wind power. So far, only one wind turbine has been installed in Slovenia. Plans of hydroplants’ construction in the Middle part of Sava river will hopefully also come closer to realisation soon. We believe that all these available potentials of RES usage in the electricity generation make Slovenian economy and society able to reach and perhaps even surpass the 2020 target. What we regard as most important at this point is setting the targets for 2030 in a new National Energy Plan in 2013.
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