Renewable energy covered one-fourth of consumption in Q3

In Q3, Estonian power plants generated 494 gigawatt-hours of renewable electricity – 15 per cent more than in the same period last year. Power from renewable sources made up 37 per cent of Estonian electricity output in the quarter ended and covered 25 per cent of consumption.

For 2019 as a whole, renewable energy made up 21 per cent of the country’s total power consumption. Estonia’s previous target was for renewable energy to cover at least 17.6% of national consumption by 2020. The goal for 2030 is to cover at least 30 per cent of power consumption.

The growth in the quantity and percentage of renewable energy in the last quarter were supported by favourable wind conditions and slightly decreased power consumption. In Q3, wind energy made up one-third of total renewable energy output. The 141 gigawatt-hours of electricity generated was 13 per cent more than last year.

From June to August of this year, producers received subsidies totalling 22.7 million euros for generating energy– 19 per cent more than in the same period last year. Seventy-nine per cent of total wind energy output in Q3 was subsidized, with the amount of support paid being 6 million euros. Over nine months, disbursements made to wind energy producers amounted to 81% of the 600 gigawatt-hours set as the annual limit.

Power produced from biomass, biogas and waste made up 61 per cent of renewable energy output in the last three months. Production from ˇthese categories of fuel made up 302 gigawatt-hours in the summer months, with close to 14 million euros in subsidies paid out. Both output and support are roughly at the same level as in the same period last year, although generation from biogas has decreased slightly, with natural gas introduced in its place.

Q3 hydroelectric output was 3 gigawatt-hours of power and 96,000 euros in subsidies were paid out.

The number of solar panel owners who receive support continues to rise rapidly, as expected. Some 4,000 producers now receive support. In the third quarter of this year, close to 50 gigawatt-hours was generated by solar panels and fed into the grid. This figure has doubled year-over-year due to the solar panels added.

In Q3, a total of 136,000 euros was spent on efficient co-generation support, and output from co-generation was 4 gigawatt-hours.

Electricity consumers finance the renewable energy and efficient co-generation support through the renewable energy fee. Elering’s total receipts in the renewable energy fee over the first nine months of this year stand at 65.4 million euros. A total of 74.2 million euros in support has been paid to producers. In the middle of this year, the government decided to allocate an emergency 4 million euros for paying the support and avoiding a rise in rates for consumers.

Details on renewable energy subsidies are available on Elering’s website under the corresponding heading.