The Status Quo and Future of Hydropower in Slovenia

Marko Hočevar, Lovrenc Novak, Primož Drešar and Gašper Rak
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Marko Hočevar: Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, University of Ljubljana, Aškerčeva cesta 6, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
Lovrenc Novak: Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, University of Ljubljana, Aškerčeva cesta 6, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
Primož Drešar: Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, University of Ljubljana, Aškerčeva cesta 6, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
Gašper Rak: Faculty of Civil and Geodetic Engineering, University of Ljubljana, Jamova cesta 2, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia

Energies, 2022, vol. 15, issue 19, 1-13

Abstract: Slovenia is a Central European country with a long history of hydropower. This paper gives a brief introduction to the current status of hydropower utilization and informs about some selected successful examples of hydropower plant operation. One such example is fish passage and flood risk reduction on the lower reaches of the Sava River at the Brežice hydroelectric power plant, taking into account a complex of morphological, hydrological, hydraulic, and anthropogenic factors. Future development is considered against the background of the National Energy and Climate Plan, which does not envisage any significant expansion in the capacity or function of the hydropower sector. The envisaged capacity increase is from the current 4430 GWh to around 4580 GWh by 2030. It is shown that the current energy storage capacity of Slovenia’s only pumped storage plant will be sufficient to offset the introduction of new non-dispatchable renewable energy sources by 2030. By around 2028, the country will have a need for electrical energy storage from renewable energy sources, reaching a modest total of only 6140 MWh per year. However, by sticking to the unambitious National Energy and Climate Plan, Slovenia will miss the opportunity to remain self-sufficient in electricity generation and significantly increase its share of renewable energy sources. The National Energy and Climate Plan aims to increase the share of renewable energy in total energy generation from 25% in 2020 to 27% by 2030.

Keywords: hydropower; energy storage; energy system model; environmental impact; national energy and climate plan (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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