Renewable Energy Comprises 16.7 Per Cent of Total Electricity Consumed in Second Quarter

In the second quarter of this year, 16.7 per cent of Estonia’s total consumption came from renewable energy sources, as compared with 14.2 per cent during the same period in 2014. Altogether, 346 gigawatt-hours of renewable energy were produced in the second quarter of 2015, with production increasing by 17 per cent compared to the second quarter of last year.

Wind energy comprised 44 per cent of total renewable energy production of the quarter and increased by 36 per cent year-on-year, reaching 154 gigawatt-hours. Subsidies of 7.3 million euros were paid for wind energy, 41 per cent more than in the same period last year. Subsidies were paid for approximately 89 per cent of all wind energy produced.

Wind energy receives subsidies to a maximum amount of 600 gigawatt-hours in a calendar year. In the first six months of this year, 56 per cent of the quota has been filled, meaning that subsidies have been paid for 334 gigawatt-hours of electricity produced from wind energy. If favourable wind conditions continue, the amount of aided wind energy might be realized by the middle of the fourth quarter this year. Producers may then continue producing wind energy, but will not receive any subsidies until the end of the year.

In the second quarter, 53 per cent of renewable energy production came from biomass, biogas and waste. 185 gigawatt-hours of electricity was produced from these sources from April to June, with production increasing six per cent year-on-year. This quarter, electricity produced from biomass, biogas and waste received 7.8 million euros in subsidies, four per cent more than a year before.

In the second quarter of the year, eight gigawatt-hours of hydro energy was produced, with 281,000 euros in subsidies paid out.

The number of solar panel owners receiving subsidies has more than doubled since the middle of last year to 259, with 260 gigawatt-hours of solar energy transferred to the grid receiving subsidies in the last three months. As the producers themselves presumably consume most of the produced solar energy on the spot, the total amount of electricity produced from solar panels is estimated as being four to five times more than the subsidised amount.

In the second quarter, Elering paid renewable energy subsidies in the amount of 15.4 million euros for 286 gigawatt-hours of electricity. This is an increase of 19 per cent in renewable energy subsidies as compared to the second quarter of last year.

In the second quarter, subsidies for the production of efficient combined heat and power were the same as at the same time last year – 1.3 million euros. Electricity produced through aided combined heat and power totalled 39 gigawatt-hours.

During the first half of the year, subsidies for renewable energy and efficient combined heat and power have been paid in the amount of 38 million euros. A total of 34.1 million euros in renewable energy fees has been collected from electricity consumers, from which the subsidies are financed. More information on renewable energy subsidies can be found here.

In June, Elering published the shares of residual mix, according to which an estimated 11 per cent of electricity energy with unsupported supply origins comes from renewable energy.