Renewable energy use nearly at 2020 target
Renewable energy accounted for 17.3 percent of electricity consumption in Estonia in the first quarter, up from 13.5 percent a year ago and very close to the 17.6 percent target set for 2020.
Production of electricity from renewable sources grew by a quarter since the first quarter on 2014, racking up 439 gigawatts per hour in the first three months of 2015.
The growth was led by wind power, which now contributes slightly more than half of all renewable power. 43 percent more power from wind was harnessed in the first quarter of 2015 compared to the same period a year ago.
If the electricity production from wind power remains at current levels, state subsidies for wind power will run out after the third quarter as 37 percent of the subsidy pot has already been paid out.
Other sources such as biomass, biogas and waste saw a 12-percent increase in production levels while solar energy, which makes up a shade of renewable energy production in Estonia, saw an increase from 111 producers to 211 since the first quarter of 2014, although most are microproducers.
A total of 19.7 million euros was paid out in renewable energy subsidies in the first quarter, 20.2 percent more than a year ago.
Renewable energy sources made up 14.8 percent of the entire electricity pie in Estonia last year, up 2.2 percent compared to 2013.
Editor: J.M. Laats