Overview
The total final consumption of Slovenia increased by 9.3% (+0.41 Mtoe) in the period 2000-2017. The final energy consumption increased by 17.5% (0.78 Mtoe) between 2000 and 2008 and decreased by 13% (0.69 Mtoe) between 2008 and 2014. The increase of energy consumption was the largest in transport, which increased by 51% (0.53 Mtoe), while the energy consumption in industry decreased by 9% (-0.13 Mtoe) and by 4% (-0.08 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 theperiod from 2000 to 2017 (26%). The energy efficiency improvement in industry achieved 2.2%/year (or 31%). The highest improvement was in services 3.3%/year ( 43%), while in households improved efficiency by 1.8%/year (or 27%). In reality energy efficiency improvement in households was higher but in 2009 the energy consumption in households increased due to the change of statistical methodology. Transport was the sector with the smallest energy efficiency improvement of 0.8%/year (or 13%).
Figure 2: Technical Energy Efficiency Index
Source: ODYSSEEThe Slovenian government has adopted four National energy efficiency action plans (NEEP). The last one, the 4th NEEAP 2017-2020 has been adopted in December 2017. The target of NEEAP is to limit primary energy consumption in 2020 below 7.125 Mtoe (82.86 TWh), which means limited growth under 2% per year in comparison to the base year 2012. The total expected energy saving, resulting from the implementation of measures for all sectors, is 4040 GWh by 2020: 935 GWh in industry, 1481 GWh in transport, 1201 GWh in households and 423 GWh in service sectors. The expected energy savings include energy savings reached by implementation of energy efficiency measures of NEEAPs and other measures of different national or sectoral programs or plans, which contribute to improved energy efficiency. Slovenia adopted its National Energy and Climate Plan (NECP) in February 2020 setting targets for 2030. The target for final energy consumption is 4.7 Mtoe. Compared to PRIMES 2007 projections this means 35 % lower energy use.
Table 1: Sample of cross-cutting measures
| Measures | NEEAP measures | Description | Expected savings, impact evaluation | More information available |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Obligation of suppliers for achieving energy savings at final consumers | yes | Suppliers of energy are obliged to achieve energy savings at final consumers. They are preparing sets of measures that final consumers can apply and provide financial incentives | 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 specific energy consumption of space heating, expressed in energy per m2 of floor area of the housing stock, fell by 21% between 2000 and 2008 and by 23% in the period 2009 – 2017. In 2009 large increase in energy intensity can be observed, due to a revision of wood energy consumption, which before 2009 has been constant and is since then estimated annually with a model. 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 per dwelling by end-use (except space heating)
Source: ODYSSEEFinal residential energy consumption in 2017 was at the same level as in 2000. Over the period, increase in the number and size of dwellings and in the number of appliances contributed to raise energy consumption by 0.34 Mtoe. At the same time, energy efficiency increased which contributed to energy savings that outweighed the increase (-0.39 Mtoe). Improved energy efficiency is due to improved technical performance of buildings and appliances and also behavioural changes. Behavioural changes happened due to economic factors (higher energy prices, pricing based on actual consumption, etc.), 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 after 2007 remains more or less constant. It is hard to make any conclusion 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: ODYSSEEMeasures from the NEEAP are being upgraded in the NECP and especially in the long term renovation strategy. Subsidies and soft loans are available to private homeowners who wish to improve the energy performance of their homes through better insulation, installation of heat recovery ventilation and invest in renewable energy sources. Special attention is given to multifamily houses, by preparing new instruments to gain consensus for renovation, by subsidizing renovation for socially endangered at 100 % and by setting up guaranty scheme. Construction of new very efficient houses and flats is also subsidised. Building Regulations set statutory minimum energy performance requirements for new buildings and substantial changes in existing buildings. 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. Energy management is being setup in public sector. The NECP sets the goal to reduce energy use in buildings by at least 20% in 2030 compared to 2005.
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 renovation of old buildings and construction of new with higher efficiency than the standard energy efficient building. | high | Link |
Transport
Overall transport energy demand in Slovenia has seen periods of dramatic growth and contraction between 2000 and 2017, as transport activity is highly sensitive to economic growth. The amount of fuels sold in Slovenia is also very sensitive to transit transport and fuel prices. Road freight increased heavily resulting in increased share in total consumption. The largest share of energy consumption belongs to cars ( 65 %).
Figure 7: Split of the transport energy consumption by mode
Source: ODYSSEEPrivate cars remain 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, the use of public transport in 2017 was much lower than in 2000. On the other hand, cycling is on increase, but statistical data are lacking.
Figure 8: Share of transport modes in passenger traffic
Source: ODYSSEEFreight transport is also dominated by road. Its share increased from 70% to 80%. 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 52 % higher in 2017 than in 2000. The highest energy use has been reached in 2008, being 70 % higher than in 2000. The most important driver of increase in energy use is activity growth of domestic transport and also the increase in transit transport with EU enlargements, followed by increased share of road transport compared to other 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. NECP puts focus on rail infrastructure and rail freight and passenger transport. 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 specific CO2 emission of cars and light duty vehicles
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 in industry in Slovenia has decreased between 2000 and 2017 by 9%. The share of total energy consumption of energy intensive industrial branches (primary metals, non-metallic minerals, paper, chemical) increased from 64% to 69% in the same period.
Figure 11: Final energy consumption by branch
Source: ODYSSEE, steel including blast furnacesThe specific energy consumption of steel and paper production decreased over the period 2000-2017 by 2.5%/year and 2.1%/year respectively. The specific energy consumption of paper industry strongly decreased since 2006, because the production of cellulose was stopped.
Figure 12: Unit consumption of steel and pulp and paper(toe/t)
Source: ODYSSEEEnergy consumption in industry has decreased by 0.13 Mtoe between 2000 and 2017, mainly because of energy savings (by -0.51 Mtoe) from the successful implementation of energy measures, and structure change (by -0.37 Mtoe), due to the stop of some energy intensive production (cellulose). On the other side the activity increase of (i.e. the growth in industrial production measured with physical production for energy-intensive products and production index for others) contributed to increase consumption by 0.57 Mtoe.
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 industrial policy for the development and raising of the competitiveness in industry. A legal framework was adopted to promote the efficient use of energy for industrial enterprises under EU-ETS. Financial incentives for industrial Non-ETS companies are included in NEEAP and the operational program for reduction of GHG emission. The implementation and improvement of NEEAP measures in industry will continue in the adopted NECP until 2030.
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 |
