Slovenia has the EU’s second highest share of companies taking measures to reduce greenhouse emissions. And energy production is also shifting toward cleaner sources.
A whopping 97 percent of Slovenian companies are taking measures to reduce greenhouse emissions according to the latest investment survey by the European Investment Bank (EIB). That's the second highest share in the EU. According to the survey, “Slovenian firms are more likely than EU firms to have invested in less polluting technologies, energy efficiency and waste minimization/recycling”. Slovenia also has the second highest share of companies investing in energy efficiency. Almost one half of the enterprises also invests in renewable energy generation – the EU average is 41 per cent.
Slovenian businesses take green transformation seriously and perceive in this trend an opportunity for market success. TECES, a Slovenian cluster of green tech and sustainable energy solutions, has over 100 members, companies and research institutions. These include local tech leaders, like Cosylab, Domel, Lotrič Meroslovje, Kolektor, Hidria, and the Institute Jožef Stefan. Another association of companies aiming at a more sustainable economy is the CER. Its numerous members consist mostly of larger companies or subsidiaries of major international groups, like Toyota, Hisense, Renault, and Unicredit Bank.
The country’s research institutions and universities support these efforts. The Greentech Research Program coordinated by the Faculty of Machinery of the University of Ljubljana brings together “scientific competences and industry” and includes partners like Danfoss, Yaskawa, LPKF, Fotona, and Gorenje – Hisense. The focus of the program are hybrid technologies, using AI and digital twins for the optimization of the processes. The goals are ambitious: it aims, over a span of 10 years, to reduce CO2 emissions by 17 million tons, energy consumption by 9 million kWh, and industrial waste by 800 thousand tons. The program has in a short time generated seven pending patents in areas such as laser technology, robotics, heat pumps, and home appliances.
Slovenian companies also consume less energy. The energy intensity of the Slovenian economy has decreased by 44 percent since the year 2000. This progress is further complemented by a shift towards greener energy production methods. Recently the country managed to reach and surpass renewable energy targets set by the EU: with a 25.1 percent share Slovenia ranks 12th among EU members and is slightly above the EU average (24.5 percent). One of the main reasons behind this growth are investments in photovoltaics. In 2023 alone the nation added 400 mW of solar power capacity, recording the highest growth in Europe. In 2024, another 300 mW were added. The installed solar power capacity per capita has reached 802 watts, putting Slovenia on 10th place in Europe.
