Slovenia's government is looking at harnessing solar power from 'giant' solar PV plants with 1 GW combined capacity to be established in the country by 2025, and supply the same to households, according to a plan that has the green light from the new Prime Minister Robert Golob.
The Ministry of Infrastructure is working with the national grid operator ELES and distribution system operator SODO to bring this capacity online over the next 3 years after being tasked by the government to draw up a plan and identify suitable locations, reported local media. It is aimed as a measure to become energy independent and reduce its dependence on fossil fuel generated electricity.
Slovenia has also issued a decision to use energy 'sparingly' as part of its energy saving measures in the light of European energy crisis that's expected to get worse as winter approaches. Infrastructure Minister Bojan Kumer recently said since the public sector consumes about 10% to 15% of total energy in the country, it needs to start saving and also recommended its denizens and private sector to follow suit.
Meanwhile, electricity prices on stock exchanges in the country have gone up around 400% since October 2021 when compared to prices in H1/2021 and long-term averages. Slovenia says currently (as on July 15, 2022) electricity prices hover around €400 per MWh.
To provide a respite from the ever increasing prices, the government will cap the maximum permitted retail price for electricity for household customers and for consumption in common areas of multi-apartment buildings and common areas in mixed multi-apartment-commercial buildings to €0.11800 per kWh for the higher daily tariff rate, €0.08200 per kWh for the lower daily tariff rate kWh and for a single daily tariff item of €0.09800 per kWh.
For non-residential customers, the tariff cap is €0.13800 per kWh for a higher daily tariff rate, €0.09900 per kWh for a lower daily tariff rate, for a single daily tariff rate of €0.12400 per kWh. These measures will come into effect from September 1, 2022.
The government expects further increase in electricity prices in 2023, but said denizens will be saved from those due to the regulation.
"By August 1, 2022, the Ministry of Infrastructure will also prepare a proposal to amend the Regulation on the method of determining and calculating contributions to ensure support for the production of electricity in cogeneration with high efficiency and from renewable energy sources, with validity from September 1, 2022 onwards, based on of which household consumers and small business consumers of electricity will be charged only 50% of the contribution for the provision of support for the production of electricity in cogeneration with high efficiency and from renewable energy sources for the period of application of the Regulation on the determination of electricity prices," stated the Ministry of Infrastructure.
Prime Minister Golob, who came into power in May 2022, is a former energy manager, who was the chairman of GEN-I a Slovenian energy company. He already was active in politics in the past, serving state secretary for energy in the Environment Ministry from 1999 to 2002 under the Drnovšek government.
In June 2021, GEN-I had proposed to install 1 GW new solar power capacity in the country by 2030 (see 1 GW Solar Power Plan Of Slovenian Electricity Supplier).
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