Renewable energy accounts for 19.7 per cent of electricity consumed in Q2

In Q2, Estonia’s power plants generated 411 gigawatt-hours of renewable energy and renewable energy made up 19.7 per cent of total power consumption in Estonia. Estonia has established 15.7 percent as the target level for the proportion of renewable energy this year.

In the last two years, the electricity produced from renewable sources in Q2 has covered slightly over 17 per cent of total consumption.

The amount of renewable energy generated in Q2 this year was lower than that of Q1, but compared to the second quarter a year ago, the quantity and percentage of renewable energy was greater, mainly due to the growth in biomass and solar production. Ten per cent more was generated from biomass than in the second quarter last year and solar output nearly tripled compared to the same period. Generation from biomass, waste and biogas made up 64 per cent of the total renewable output in Q2, while electricity produced from wind made up 30 per cent and solar accounted for close to 5 per cent of the entirety of renewable energy output.

Producers received 5 million euros in subsidies for wind energy from April to June this year, which is 6 per cent less than in the same period last year. A total of 77 per cent of wind energy generated was subsidized and over the half-year, 49 per cent of the wind energy subsidies forecasted for 2019 had been paid. Of the wind energy output set forth in legislation as being supported by subsidies (600 gigawatt-hours), 49 percent – 293 gigawatt-hours – had been generated by the half-year mark.

Over three months, the electricity generated from biomass, biogas and waste amounted to 263 gigawatt-hours and 13 million euros in subsidies were paid for this electricity during Q2 this year.

A total of 6.5 gigawatt-hours of electricity was produced from hydro resources in Q2, and the subsidies for this category amounted to 176,000 euros.

Despite the fact that the subsidization scheme has partially ended, the number of solar panel owners receiving subsidies continues to grow and in Q2 of this year, the quantity of electricity generated by solar panels and fed into the grid was close to 19 gigawatt-hours. As most of the solar energy generated is consumed by micro-producers themselves on site, the total amount of electricity generated using solar panels might be as much as 4-5 times bigger than the quantity that was fed into the grid and subsidized.

Slightly more efficient co–generation support was paid this Q2 compared to last year at the same time – 612,000 euros. A little more than 19 gigawatt-hours of electricity was produced in the efficient co-generation mode.

Electricity consumers finance the support for electricity generated from renewable sources and efficient co-generation by means of the renewable energy charge. During Q2, Elering garnered 19.2 million euros in renewable energy charges, and paid 20.2 million euros in subsidies. More details about the renewable energy subsidies are available on the Elering website.

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