Evaluation and Analysis of Renewable Energy Sources Potential in Slovenia and its Compatibility Examination with Slovenian National Renewable Energy Action Plan

Abstract

Environmental problems and high import dependency from fossil fuels are core problems of the energy policy of the European Union (EU), therefore the EU has committed to increase the share of renewable energy sources (RES) in final energy consumption to 20% by 2020. Individual targets for each EU member must be incorporated in National Renewable Energy Action Plan (NREAP). To evaluate the possibilities for development of sustainable energy industry and for preparation of NREAP, evaluation of future energy needs must be made, national RES potentials must be examined and increase of RES share must be planed. In this paper the energy balance and the consumption structure of energy sources in Slovenia, EU and the World is analyzed. The share and growth of RES in Slovenian energy balance is compared with the average values of EU and the World, with emphasis on examining RES potential in Slovenia. Compatibility of RES potentials with the planed utilization for individual RES potentials in Slovenia is analyzed from economic and technological point of view with environmental considerations taken into account. The purpose is to examine which RES potentials have not been fully exploited and compatibility of measures provided in Slovenian NREAP with the estimated potential of RES.