Ljubljana, 20 April (STA) - To meet its energy needs, Slovenia imported 48% of all energy it consumed in 2023, shows data the Statistics Office (SURS) released just a few days before Earth Day, which is observed on 22 April.
Petroleum products dominated the structure of energy consumption at 34%, followed by nuclear energy (23%) and renewableles together with hydropower (just under 21%).
In terms of gross final energy consumption, Slovenia exceeded the 25% share of energy from renewable sources for the first time in 2023, at 25.1%.
Nuclear and hydropower stations accounted for the largest shares of electricity generation in 2023, at 35% each, followed by thermal plants at 23%.
Solar and wind combined represented just under 7% of all generated electricity, but has been growing, from just over 1% in 2014.
As the production of electricity, heat and steam from fossil fuels is a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, SURS says that in 2022, the supply of electricity, gas and steam accounted for 3.5 million tonnes of CO2, or 27%, in Slovenia.
This share declined over a 10-year period from 2013, when 5.8 million tonnes of CO2 was generated, is represented 41% of total CO2 emissions in that year.
On the other hand, the amount and share of CO2 emissions from road, sea and air transport have been increasing.
In 2013, transport accounted for 4.3 million tonnes of CO2 emissions, or 30% of the total, rising in 2022 to 5.4 million tonnes, or 43% of the total CO2 emissions.
Overall CO2 emissions have been falling since 2017. In 2022, they reached 12.7 million tonnes, 3% less than in 2021 and 10% less than in 2013.
The country collected almost EUR 1.8 billion in environmental taxes in 2023, up 7% from 2022.
The largest share, 81%, was collected through energy taxes, which among others include excise duties on energy products and other taxes on CO2 pollution.
SURS also says that EUR 474 million was spent in 2023 on investments in environmental protection, up 17% compared to 2014.
Current expenditure on environmental protection meanwhile more than doubled over the same period, reaching just over EUR 1 billion.
