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
This information can
be referenced without permission provided that the
source is mentioned completely and correctly: 'Interactive EurObserv'ER
Database, http://www.eurobserv-er.org (date of last update)'
Suggestions for improvements to the policy description can be sent to
EurObserv'ER by e-mail: project@eurobserv-er.org
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
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