Renewable energy accounted for 17.3 per cent of total consumption in second quarter

In the second quarter of this year, renewable energy comprised 17.3 per cent of the gross consumption of electricity energy, which represents an almost three per cent increase compared to the same period last year. In total, 379 gigawatt-hours of renewable energy was produced in the second quarter.

In the second quarter of last year, renewable energy comprised 14.6 per cent of gross consumption and 17 per cent during the same period in 2015. Estonia has set 15.2 per cent as the reference level for the share of renewable energy this year.

In the second quarter, wind energy comprised 37.7 per cent of total renewable energy production and, due to favourable wind conditions, the 143 gigawatt-hours of wind energy produced was an increase by a third in comparison to the same period last year. In the second quarter, Elering paid 6.2 million euros in subsidies for wind energy, 30 per cent more in a year-on-year comparison. 82 per cent of the total wind energy produced was subsidised and 45 per cent of the wind energy subsidies planned for the year were paid out during the first half of the year.

In the second quarter, 60 per cent of renewable energy production came from electricity produced from biomass, biogas and waste. 227 gigawatt-hours of electricity were produced from these fuel sources in the three-month period. In the second quarter of last year, production was almost 20 per cent lower, but the average air temperature from April to June last year was also higher than this year; therefore, the workload of combined heat and power plants was probably smaller. Electricity produced from biomass, biogas and waste received 10.5 million euros in subsidies in the second quarter of this year.

In the second quarter of this year, six gigawatt-hours of electricity were produced from hydro energy and 180,191 euros were paid out in subsidies.

The number of solar panel owners receiving subsidies is still increasing rapidly and over 750 producers are currently producing electricity energy with solar panels, including private persons as well as more powerful solar power plants belonging to commercial enterprises. In the second quarter of this year, the amount of electrical energy produced from solar panels and transferred to the grid totalled 2.2 gigawatt-hours. Due to solar panels added, this indicator has almost doubled in a yearly comparison. As most of the solar energy produced is consumed by the micro producers on site, it is estimated that the overall amount of electricity produced from solar panels may be four to five times bigger than the subsidised amount.

In the second quarter, Elering paid renewable energy subsidies in the amount of 17 million euros for 317 gigawatt-hours of electricity. In financial calculations, the amount of renewable energy subsidies increased by 23 per cent in comparison to the second quarter of last year. More information on renewable energy subsidies can be found on the Elering website.

In the second quarter of this year, subsidies for the production of efficient combined heat and power were smaller by a third compared to the same time last year – 810,000 euros. 25 gigawatt-hours of electricity were produced through combined heat and power.

Electricity consumers finance subsidies for renewable energy and efficient combined heat and power through the renewable energy fee. In the second quarter, Elering collected 18.9 million euros of this fee.