Renewable energy subsidy increased by 22 per cent in the third quarter

In the third quarter of this year, Elering paid 22 per cent more renewable energy subsidies in comparison with the same period last year. In total, Elering paid 16.3 million euros of renewable energy subsidies for 300 gigawatt-hours of electricity energy.

In the third quarter, Estonian power plants produced 331 gigawatt-hours of renewable energy and renewable energy comprised 15.9 per cent of total electricity consumption in Estonia, which is almost one and a half per cent more than the same period last year. In the third quarter of last year, renewable energy covered 14.7 per cent of gross consumption compared to 14.3 per cent during the same period in 2015. Estonia has set 15.2 per cent as the target level for the share of renewable energy for this year.

Wind energy totalled 39 per cent of renewable energy cross production in the third quarter and the 129 gigawatt-hours produced was similar to last year. From July to September, Elering paid 6 million euros in subsidies for wind energy, which is seven per cent more in comparison with the same period last year. 90 per cent of the total wind energy produced was subsidised and 64 per cent of the wind energy subsidies planned for the year have been paid out over the first nine months. In the first three quarters of the year, 65 per cent of the subsidised wind energy’s 600 gigawatt-hour maximum has been paid out.

In the third quarter of this year, 59 per cent of renewable energy production came from electricity energy produced from biomass, biogas and waste. 196 gigawatt-hours of electricity was produced from these fuel sources in the three month period. In the third quarter of last year, production was lower by 14 percentage points, but the average air temperature was also higher last year from July to September in a year-on-year comparison; therefore, the workload of combined heat and power plants was smaller. Electricity produced from biomass, biogas and waste received 9.8 million euros in subsidies in the third quarter of this year.

In the third quarter of this year, two gigawatt-hours of electricity were produced from hydro energy and 111,431 euros was paid out in subsidies.

The number of solar panel owners receiving subsidies is still increasing rapidly and currently over 900 private individuals and businesses are producing electricity energy with solar panels. In the third quarter of this year, the amount of electricity energy produced from solar panels and transferred to the grid totalled 1.5 gigawatt-hours. With the support of added solar panels, this indicator has increased by almost a half in a yearly comparison. As the micro producers consume most of the solar energy produced locally, the overall amount of electricity produced from solar panels is estimated to be four to five times more than the subsidised amount.

In the third quarter of this year, subsidies for the production of efficient combined heat and power were one fifth lower compared to the same time last year – 262,000 euros. Electricity produced through combined heat and power totalled eight gigawatt-hours.

Electricity consumers finance subsidies for renewable energy and efficient combined heat and power through the renewable energy fee. In the third quarter, Elering collected 18.1 million euros of this fee. More detailed information on renewable energy subsidies can be found on Elering’s website.