Page 59 - European Energy Innovation - spring 2019 publication

Spring 2019 European Energy Innovation 59
been prepared. The reference
scenario envisages no major new
power plants despite the winding
down of both the Krško nuclear
plant and TEŠ, which today account
for around two thirds the country’s
electricity production. This would
substantially increase the need
to import electricity. The green
renewable energy (RE) scenario
envisages a 100% replacement of
the lost production capacity with
renewable sources, while the RE
+ nuclear scenario includes a new
generator at the nuclear power
plant and replacing the rest of the
fossil fuel–based production with
renewables. The expected result can
be found in the tables below.2
On the national level, Slovenia has
committed to increase the share
of electric cars to 15% by 2030.
Moreover, the EU’s commitment to an
80% cut in greenhouse gas emissions
by 2050 as compared to 1990 also
requires Slovenia to do its part in
pursuing this target.
So, what do we do next?
IT, transport and energy are the
three key infrastructure sectors that
greatly define the way and quality of
life for individuals and a given society. should be a priority for mankind,
We live in an extraordinary time
when all three sectors are changing
greatly. These changes are reflected
in megatrends that indicate where
the sectors are headed. In IT, new
Electricity prices (taxes excluded) for households by scenario (in €/MWh)
TODAY
Reference scenario
125 Green RE scenario
RE + nuclear scenario
Dependency on energy imports by scenario
TODAY
Reference scenario
49% Green RE scenario
RE + nuclear scenario
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SLOVENIAN ENERGY
technologies are bringing ever new
upgrades to the internet, and with
them a shift in centres of trust. At the for the transport sector, as well
same time, advanced IT platforms
open the door for the development
of autonomous vehicles. And
already today we are witnessing an
electrification of transport. Behind all as a problem but rather a solution
these transitions lies electrification.
Electricity is gradually taking over
from oil and is becoming the most
important energy vector of the future,
which will define the policies of the
transition to a low-carbon society.
And so, electricity is becoming
the link between the three crucial
infrastructure sectors.
Energy security, energy equity
(accessibility and affordability)
and environmental sustainability
constitute the so-called energy
trilemma and represent the main
orientations for a sustainable energy
sector, providing a framework for
defining the energy concept. The
right combination of these three
sustainability dimensions enables
stable and sustainable energy
systems, which are also key to
sovereignty.
Decarbonisation
A transition to a low-carbon society
as the success in this transition
will determine our survival on this
planet. Energy sector is the main
force leading this transition, and
the mentality in this sector and
2050
? changes in production, but even
240
150
2050
65%
36%
27%
the technologies that have been
tested here also offer solutions
as other industries. The transition
can be led by those parts of the
energy sector that are already low-
carbon and see the transition not
bringing added value, quality jobs
for a highly educated workforce in
Slovenia and a competitive edge for
the Slovenian economy. Given the
growing need for electric power, the
crucial role in the decarbonisation
will need to be played by carbon-free
sources like renewables and nuclear
energy on the production side, and
the electrification of traffic on the
consumption side.
Democratisation
The end user is no longer merely a
recipient and consumer of energy, but
is also assuming a more and more
active role with the introduction of
advanced systems in smart homes.
The awareness of citizens regarding
energy issues is growing, and with it
their need to express and participate
in shaping the energy future.
Although households only make
up for a quarter of the total energy
consumption, the growing use
of heat pumps, air conditioning
and e-mobility indicate a trend
of additional growth in electricity
consumption. As a result, it will
be necessary to invest more in
production and distribution systems.
Digitisation
New technologies for electricity
use, dispersed production and the
shift in the transport sector herald
more so in energy use itself. Mankind
is developing new technologies, such
as the internet of things, blockchain,
artificial intelligence, mobile devices
and big data. Digitisation, the driver
of technological progress, appears
to be a particularly appropriate basis
for further development in energy.
Digitisation offers an opportunity
to change habits and thereby the