Renewable energy constitutes 14 per cent of total electricity consumption in second quarter

In the second quarter of this year, Estonian electricity power plants produced 294 gigawatt-hours of renewable energy, which made up 14.3 per cent of total electricity consumption in Estonia, one per cent more than in the previous quarter.

Wind energy made up nearly 34.5 per cent of the second quarter’s total renewable energy output, and the total amount of electricity produced from wind – 101 gigawatt-hours – was, due to bad wind conditions and similarly to the first quarter, more than a third lower than at the same time last year.

For wind energy, Elering paid out 4.8 million euros in subsidies for electricity produced from renewable sources from April to June, which is also a third less than at the same time last year. Of all electricity produced from wind energy, 88 per cent received grants, and during the quarter, 15 per cent of the annual budgeted amount for wind energy grants was paid out. For the first half of the year thus far, 37 per cent of the limit for grants of 600 gigawatt-hours per year had been used up. Last year, as a result of favourable wind conditions, 56 per cent of the annual subsidies for wind energy was paid out by the end of the first half of the year.

Electricity produced from biomass, biogas and waste made up 62 per cent of renewable energy production in the second quarter. These four types of fuel produced 183 gigawatt-hours of electricity. Around the same level of production was also seen at the beginning of last year. A total of 8.7 million euros in subsidies for electricity produced from biomass, biogas and waste was paid out throughout the quarter.

In the second quarter this year, electricity produced from hydro energy totalled nine gigawatt-hours, and a total of 300 821 euros were paid out in subsidies.

The number of solar panel owners receiving grants continues to grow rapidly, and around 100 producers more than last quarter have registered their production equipment to receive grants, making the total number around 500 solar energy electricity producers. During the second quarter, a total of 1.1 gigawatt-hours of electricity was produced and distributed to the grid using solar panels. According to data provided by the Weather Service, from April to June this year, there was 23 per cent more sunshine than during the same period last year. As the majority of electricity produced from solar energy is used by micro-producers themselves, it is estimated that the actual quantity of electricity produced from solar panels is 4-5 times larger than the quantity receiving subsidies.

In total, Elering paid out 13.8 million euros in subsidies for 257 gigawatt-hours of electricity produced from renewable energy. In financial terms, the amount of financial support for renewable energy production in the second quarter of this year has fallen by just over ten per cent in comparison with the previous year.

Subsidies for efficient combined heat and power (CHP) generation in the second quarter of this year totalled slightly less than the same period last year – 1.2 million euros. A total of 37 gigawatt-hours of electricity were produced through efficient CHP regime.

Renewable energy and CHP subsidies are financed through the renewable energy charge levied on electricity consumers. Elering collected 17.6 million euros in the second quarter of this year through this charge. More information about renewable energy subsidies is available here.