Renewable Energy Accounts for 13.5% of Total Q3 Consumption

Renewable energy output accounted for 13.5% of all electricity consumption in Estonia in the third quarter of this year, compared to 13% for the same period last year.

Compared to a year ago, the total output of renewable energy grew by six percent in the third quarter of this year, to a total of 257 gigawatt-hours. Of this, biomass and biogas-powered generation accounted for 61%, wind power for 37%, and hydro energy for two percent. The growth was supported by the opening of new wind farms, which boosted wind-powered electricity output by 31 gigawatt-hours, to a total of 95 gigawatt-hours.

Approximately 258 megawatts’ worth of wind power stations are connected to the electricity grid at this time. Out of these, 85.6 megawatts have been added in the last quarter: 45 megawatts in Paldiski and 39 megawatts in Narva, plus a 1.5 megawatt wind farm in Sikassaare on the island of Saaremaa.

In contrast to the growth in wind power output, the amount of renewable energy generated from biomass fell by 18 gigawatt-hours in the third quarter, to 157 gigawatt-hours. The main reason for this was the decrease in the usage of biomass in the 11th energy block of the Balti power plant.

“Looking at the renewable energy generation figures for 2012 to date, as well as the known changes in the use of biomass, it is important for the achievement of Estonia’s renewable energy goals that the Electricity Market Act be changed to establish a legal framework that would allow as many of the planned renewable energy plants as possible to take advantage of the money currently being spent on subsidizing renewable energy,” commented Taavi Veskimägi, Chairman of the Board of Elering.

According to him, society could take advantage of renewable energy significantly more than it does today, for the same or less money, if the right regulations were in place. “This approach would allow us to ensure the fulfillment of the renewable energy goal without extraordinary measures, such as the selection of a single producer that would get the right to generate all of the energy required to meet the sustainability goal and receive the subsidy for it,” he added.

The amount of renewable energy receiving state support was slightly lower in the third quarter than the entire renewable energy output. A total of 192 gigawatt-hours of electricity produced from renewable sources was subsidized in that quarter, compared to 204 gigawatt-hours a year ago.

In monetary terms, 10.3 million euros worth of renewable energy subsidy applications were received in the third quarter. Biomass-powered energy accounted for 70% of the state support, wind power for 28%, and hydro energy for three percent.