Overview
The total final consumption of Slovenia increased by 5.7% (+0.25 Mtoe) in the period 2000-2015. The final energy consumption increased by 18.7% (0.83 Mtoe) in the period of between 2000 and 2008 and decreased by 11.0% (-0.58 Mtoe) in the period between 2008 and 2015. The increase of energy consumption was the largest in transport, which increased by 45.4% (0.56 Mtoe), while the energy consumption decreased by 13.8% (-0.20 Mtoe) in industry and by 6.4% (-0.11 Mtoe) in other sectors (households, services, agriculture).
Figure 1: Final energy consumption by sector (normal climate)
Source: ODYSSEEEnergy efficiency for final consumers, as measured by ODEX, improved by an average of 1.8%/year in the period from 2000 to 2015 or 24% over the whole period. The energy efficiency improvement of industry is in the same level as the average of all sectors. The highest improvement was in services (3.8%/year, or 44% over the period). In households energy efficiency improved by 1.7%/year, or 23% over the period. In reality energy efficiency improvement in households was higher but in 2009 the energy consumption in households increased as a results of the change of statistical methodology for assessment of quantity of use of renewable energy sources. Transport was the sector with the smallest improvement of energy efficiency.
Figure 2: Technical Energy Efficiency Index
Source: ODYSSEEThe Slovenian government has adopted in May 2015 the 3rd NEEAP 2014-2020 (AN URE 2020). The draft of 4th NEEAP 2017-2020 was published in May 2017 and it is under discussion. The target of NEEAPs is to limit primary energy consumption in 2020 below 7.125 Mtoe (82,86 TWh), which means limited growth under 2% per year regarding to the base year 2012.
Table 1: Sample of cross-cutting measures
| Measures | NEEAP measures | Description | Expected savings, impact evaluation | More information available |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Incentives for introducing energy management systems | yes | Establishment of a scheme to promote energy governance in SMEs from 2018 onwards. The first phase of the establishment of the scheme will include the preparation of the scheme and the start-up with the pilot project. | Medium | Link |
| Quality assurance schemes for energy audits | yes | Establishment of a scheme that will include training and certification of energy auditors, systematic monitoring, support the implementation of projects on the principle of energy contracting | Medium | Link |
| Ecological Fund - Eco-Fund | yes | Eco Fund is a financial institution, established to support the environmental and energy efficiency investments in all sectors. | High | Link |
Buildings
In the residential sector, the energy intensity of space heating, expressed in energy per meter squared floor area of the housing stock, fell by 21% between 2000 and 2008 and by 19% in the period 2009 – 2015. In 2009 large increase in energy intensity can be observed which is due to improvement of renewable energy consumption statistics in households. Before 2009 use of wood has been constant, 2009 onwards it is estimated annually. Energy intensity reduction after 2009 is due to improvement of buildings performance by implementation of different measures, an important driver of which are subsidies from public fund Ecofund.
Figure 3: Energy consumption of space heating per m2
Source: ODYSSEEFigure 4: Energy consumption by end-use per dwelling
Source: ODYSSEETotal final residential energy consumption decreased by 1% between 2000 and 2015. In that time the number and size of dwellings and number of appliances increased which contributed to higher energy consumption. At the same time also the energy efficiency increased which contributed to energy savings that outweighed the increase. Improved energy efficiency is due to improved technical performance of buildings and appliances and also behavioural changes. Behavioural changes happened due to economic factors (high energy prices, pricing of heating in multifamily buildings based on actual consumption, etc.) and informational and awareness raising campaigns and availability of free expert counsels.
Figure 5: Main drivers of the energy consumption variation in households
Source: ODYSSEEIn the service sector electricity consumption per employee is increasing. This can be attributed to higher use of information technologies, expansion of trade sector (shopping malls) and also due to the fact that fewer people are needed for the same amount of work. Energy consumption in service sector has decreased mainly in 2003. After 2007 no clear trend can be observed. It is hard to make any conclusions for energy consumption trends in this sector since it is a residual and therefore not only changes in this sector have influence on energy consumption.
Figure 6: Energy and electricity consumption per employee (normal climate)
Source: ODYSSEEEnergy efficiency measures in households have focused on improving the thermal efficiency of dwellings, through improved regulations on new dwellings and a programme of retrofitting for the existing housing stock. The subsidies scheme provides a financial incentive to private homeowners who wish to improve the energy performance of their homes through attic insulation, wall insulation, installation of heat recovery ventilation and invest in renewable energy sources. Soft loans are also provided for the same measures. Construction of new very efficient houses and flats is also subsidised.
All new buildings, as well as extensions or material changes used in existing buildings, are subject to Building Regulations which set statutory minimum energy performance requirements. Regulation has been tightened in 2011. Further tightening is envisaged in the near future.
Financial programmes for energy renovation of buildings in public sector are in place and combined with third party financing schemes.
The goal of adopted building regulations and other energy efficiency action plans is to achieve at least 30% energy savings in households by 2020 in comparison to 2012.
Table 2: Sample of policies and measures implemented in the building sector
| Measures | Description | Expected savings, impact evaluation | More information available |
|---|---|---|---|
| Energy efficient heating systems | Financial incentives for replacement of old and inefficient heating systems with high energy efficient ones, as well as for use of renewable sources and optimization of heating system operations | high | Link |
| Efficient use of energy in buildings | Technical requirements for thermal insulation, heating, cooling, ventilation, preparation of hot water and lighting in buildings. | high | Link |
| Energy-efficient renovation and sustainable construction of residential buildings | Financial stimulation (incentives) designed to support the investment in energy sanitation of old buildings and new over standard energy efficient building. | high | Link |
Transport
Overall transport energy demand in Slovenia has seen periods of dramatic growth and contraction between 2000 and 2015, as transport activity remains highly sensitive to economic growth. Amount of sold fuel in Slovenia is also very sensitive to transit transport and fuel prices. Road freight increased heavily contributing to increased share in total consumption. The largest share of energy consumption, more than 70 %, belongs to cars.
Figure 7: Split of the transport energy consumption by mode
Source: ODYSSEEPrivate car transport remains the dominant mode of passenger transport, reflecting Slovenia’s dispersed settlement patterns and weak public transport. Despite improved implementation of measures to support use of public transport in the last years, use of public transport in 2015 was much lower than in 2000, especially the use of road public transport. On the other hand, cycling is on increase, but statistical data are lacking.
Figure 8: Share of transport in passenger traffic
Source: ODYSSEEFreight transport is also dominated by road. Its share increased from 70% to 81%. Slovenia is export oriented country with good transport connections to EU countries and favourite geographic location also due to port on Adriatic Sea. Road infrastructure has been greatly improved in the past, while improvements in rail infrastructure have started to gain momentum in the recent years.
Figure 9: Share of modes in freight traffic
Source: ODYSSEETotal transport energy use was 46% higher in 2015 than in 2000 but in that period energy use increased almost 70% from 2000-2008, decreased 16% in 2009, increased 10 % from 2009-2012 and decreased 7% from 2012-2015. The most important driver of increase in energy use is activity growth of domestic transport and also due to increase in transit transport with EU enlargements, followed by increased share of road transport compared to other more energy efficient transport modes and other factors, mainly behavioural i.e. load factor of vehicles. Increased energy efficiency of passenger cars due to technological improvements was the only factor that reduced energy consumption.
Figure 10: Main drivers of the energy consumption variation in transport
Source: ODYSSEESupport to public transport represents a very important policy package targeting to overturn negative trend in the last decade and increase its use. The effect on energy efficiency and reduction of GHG emissions of this policy package is important, but more important are benefits in air quality. The largest benefits on energy efficiency are expected from increased energy efficiency of vehicles especially passenger cars through technological improvement of vehicles with internal combustion engines and penetration of new technologies especially electric vehicles. This is supported by car taxation based on CO2 emissions, subsidies for electric and hybrid vehicles, subsidies for charging infrastructure, EU regulation on CO2 in cars and other vehicles. In 2017 strategy on vehicles using alternative fuels has been accepted, that has foreseen that in 2030 no new cars with CO2 emissions higher than 50 gCO2/km could be registered in Slovenia.
Table 3: Policies and measures into force in the transport sector
| Measures | Description | Expected savings, impact evaluation | More information available |
|---|---|---|---|
| Promotion of public transport | Subsidies for public transport, Integrated ticket and timetables for different means of public transport, subsidies for public transport infrastructure | Medium | Link |
| Sustainable freight transport | The aim of measures is to limit the growth of road freight transit and secure a transition to rail freight transport to the greatest possible extent. The instruments include: (1) financial incentives for the establishment of intermodality and an increase in rail freight transport, (2) fiscal instruments for road freight transport | Medium | Link |
| Improvement of efficiency of passenger transport | Regulation on labelling of cars and tyres, subsidies for low CO2 cars, educational activities, green public procurement, promotion of non-motorized forms of transport | High | Link |
Industry
The total final energy consumption of industry in Slovenia has decreased in the period between 2000 and 2015 by 13.8%. The share of total energy consumption of energy intensive industrial branches increased from 64% to 68% in the same period.
Figure 11: Final energy consumption by branch
Source: ODYSSEEThe specific energy consumption of steel and paper production was decreased in the period 2000-2015 by -2,1%/year and -3,1%/year respectively. The specific energy consumption of paper industry strongly decreased since 2006, because the production of cellulose was stopped.
The total final energy consumption of industry in Slovenia has decreased in the period between 2000 and 2015 for 13.8% (-0.2Mtoe) then increased in the next years to 2006 by 22% or 32% in comparison to 2000 or 2002.
The energy consumption after the year 2006 decreased until 2009 (1220 ktoe) when it reached levels that were compared to consumption in 2000 lower by 13 %. After 2009 increase of consumption for one year followed and afterword slow decrease as is shown in Figure 21 and Figure 22. The average decrease in final energy consumption of industry in the period 2000-2013 was -1.2%/year.
Figure 12: Unit consumption of steel (toe/t)
Source: ODYSSEEEnergy consumption in industry has decreased by 0.2 Mtoe (from 1.42 Mtoe to 1.22 Mtoe) in the period 2000 to 2015 due to energy savings by-0.47 Mtoe and structure change by-0.29 Mtoe, which is results of successful implementation of energy measures and abandoning of some energy intensive productions (cellulose). On the opposite an activity effect of 0.39 Mtoe (due to the effect of growth in industrial production measured with physical production for energy-intensive branches and production index for others) tend to increase the energy consumption.
Figure 13: Main drivers of the energy consumption variation in industry
Source: ODYSSEEStimulation of energy efficiency in industry is set as one of the measures of Slovenian policy (Slovenian industrial policy) for the development and raising of the competitiveness of industry. A legal framework was adopted to promote the efficient use of energy for industrial enterprises under EU emission trading scheme (ETS). Financial incentive measures for industrial Non-ETS companies are included in the Efficient Energy Action Plans and the operational program for reduction of GHG emission.
Table 4: Policies and measures into force in industry
| Measures | Description | Expected savings, impact evaluation | More information available |
|---|---|---|---|
| Efficient electricity consumption | Stimulation of improvement of the efficient use of electricity in industry. | high | Link |
| Energy management systems in industry | Financial incentives to introduce energy management systems in industrial companies: energy audits, the implementation of energy management systems and preparation of feasibility studies for investment in energy efficiency and RES | medium | Link |
