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Solar thermal energy in Estonia

General
The Estonian energy supply is mainly from the indigenous fossil fuel oil shale, a situation that only occurs in a few countries worldwide. Regarding renewables, the additional potential is mainly in biomass, biogas, wind power and small hydropower. The Estonian energy policy is described in the Estonian Longterm Public Fuel and Energy Sector Development Plan and the Development Plan for Electricity Sector until 2015. According to these documents, the overall share of renewable electricity aimed at is 8% in 2015 and 10% in 2020. The following technology-specific targets are mentioned:
 
2010 2015
Wind power 2.2% 5.4%
Biomass 2.5% 3.0%
Other renewables (landfill gas and hydropower) 0.4% 0.5%

According to the draft Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources the target for the share of energy from renewable sources in gross final consumption of energy in the year 2020 for Estonia is 25% (in the year 2005 the share was 18.0%) (European Parliament legislative resolution of 17 December 2008).

Renewable energy projections according to the National Renewable Energy Action Plan for Estonia
The National Renewable Energy Action Plan (NREAP) for Estonia was submitted in December 2010. The target according to Annex I of Directive 2009/28/EC is 25% for the year 2020 and the projected NREAP share in that year exactly matches the target.  According to the projection, the most important contribution in the year 2020 is expected from biomass (renewable heating and cooling) (607 ktoe, 70% of all renewable energy). Second important contribution is expected from wind power (1.5 TWh or 132 ktoe, 15% of all renewable energy). The third largest contribution is from biodiesel (renewable transport) (51 ktoe, 6% of all renewable energy). Wind power contributes with 0.7 GW (1.5 TWh) in the year 2020 (onshore wind 0.4 GW and 1.0 TWh, offshore wind 0.3 GW and 0.6 TWh). No solar PV nor solar thermal is projected for 2020. The two most important biofuels are projected to contribute 51 ktoe (biodiesel) and 38 ktoe (bioethanol / bio-ETBE) by 2020. For solid biomass and biogas no projections have been made in the Estonian Action Plan.

RES - Heating and Cooling: solar thermal
The Estonian heat production from renewable energy primarily derives from combined heat and power production based on biofuel. On solar thermal application no specific information is available. A generic support measure that may apply to solar thermal comes from the Structural Funds, implemented through the Estonian National Development Plan (NDP). Reducing environmental impact of the energy sector, improving efficiency and increasing the share of renewable energy are goals. During the period of 2004 to 2006, the Centre approved 14 renewable energy projects and paid out grants totalling approximately M€ 2.7. For the period 2007 to 2013, the National Strategic Reference Framework (NSRF) has been announced, which has a focus on investments for flexible (RES) cogeneration plants and power grid connection infrastructure.

Future programme changes expected
An ecological tax reform was initiated in Estonia in 2005, and is to be carried out by 2013. In the energy sector, one of the priorities of ecological tax reform is to promote renewable energy, but this is focused on RES-E.

Sources
Imbi Jürgen, Tark & Co, Estonia, I.E.L.T.R. ISSUE 10, 2007

Estonian Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications, http://www.mkm.ee (sourced September 2008)

The National Renewable Energy Action Plans (NREAPs) are all published on the Transparency Platform on Renewable Energy: http://ec.europa.eu/energy/renewables/transparency_platform/action_plan_en.htm (sourced July - December 2010)

Renewable Energy Projections as Published in the National Renewable Energy Action Plans of the European Member States, http://www.ecn.nl/nreap (sourced December 2010)

Interactive EurObserv’ER Database
http://www.eurobserv-er.org
Last update: December 2010


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The EurObserv'ER barometer is a project supported by the European Commission within the DG ENER 'Intelligent Energy Europe' programme and by Ademe, the French Environment and Energy management Agency. The EurObserv'ER Barometer is the result of the investigation and research work of its authors. The European Commission is not responsible for any use that may be made of the information contained therein.