Renewable energy covers 13 per cent of total electricity consumption in first quarter

In the first quarter of this year, Estonian power stations produced 345 gigawatt-hours of renewable energy, and renewable energy covered 13.0 per cent of electricity consumption in Estonia.

Wind energy made up almost 42 per cent of the total renewable energy production in the first quarter, and the quantity of electricity produced from wind energy – 143 gigawatt-hours – is due to wind conditions that were more than third less favourable than those of the same period a year ago.

Elering paid out support for wind energy in the amount of 6.9 million euros over a period of three months, which is a third less than the same period last year. In total, 90 per cent of wind energy produced in this period received support and 21 per cent of the year’s planned support was paid out during this quarter.

Electricity produced from biomass, biogas and rubbish comprised 56 per cent of the first quarter’s renewable energy production. These three sources produced a total of 192 gigawatt-hours of energy from January to March. This is approximately the same amount as was produced in the same period last year. A total of 8.6 million euros in support was paid out for electricity produced from biomass, biogas and rubbish in the first quarter.

A total of ten gigawatt-hours has been produced this year from hydro energy sources, and 336 200 euros in support has been paid out.

The number of solar panel owners receiving support grew at an increasing pace, and more than 400 solar energy producers have registered their equipment in order to receive support. In the first quarter, electricity produced using solar panels and distributed to the grid totalled 169 megawatt-hours, which is 1.6 times more than a year ago. As the majority of solar energy is consumed by the producers themselves on site, it is estimated that the actual amount of electricity produced using solar panels receiving support is 4 to 5 times larger.

In total, Elering paid out 15.9 million euros in support for 308 gigawatt-hours of electricity produced from renewable sources in the first quarter of the year. In financial terms, the amount of support for renewable energy in this period fell by a fifth as compared with the same period last year.

Electricity produced under a combined heat and power regime (CHP) received somewhat less support than the same period last year – 1.5 million euros. A total of 48 gigawatt-hours were produced from CHP sources.

Renewable energy and CHP grants are financed through the renewable energy charge paid by consumers. Elering collected 20.3 million euros through this charge in the first quarter. More information is available on renewable energy support sums here.