Electricity sector in Estonia

The electricity sector in Estonia is connected to Finland, Russia and the other Baltic countries. It is one of the dirtiest in the EU in terms of CO2 emissions, as oil-based fuels account for about 80% of domestic production. However, renewables have grown to over 13% of production whereas they were less than 1% in 2000. As such Estonia is one of the countries to have reached its EU renewable target for 2020 already.[1][2]

Consumption

According to IEA the electricity use (gross production + imports – exports – transmission/distribution losses) in 2008 in Estonia was 8.5 TWh and population 1.34 million people. Own energy production was 78% of primary energy in 2008. In 2008 electricity use per person in Estonia was 105% compared to the one in the United Kingdom.[3]

Production

Fossil fuels

Oil-based fuels, including oil shale and fuel oils, accounted for about 80% of domestic production in 2016. There is also some natural gas capacity, but no coal generation.[1] The largest power complex in the country, Narva Power Plants, consists of the world's two largest oil shale-fired thermal power plants.[4] The complex generated about 95% of total power production in Estonia in 2007.[5]

Wind power
Main article: Wind power in Estonia

Total installed wind power was 149 MW at end of 2010 and grew to 303 MW in 2014. In the end of 2010 the installed wind power equaled in average 3.2% of electricity use. The European average was 5.3%.[6] Estonia has target of 14% (1.5 TWh) and total renewable electricity 1.9 TWh (17.6%). According to the national Energy Action Plan (2020) planned shares are onshore 9% and offshore 5%.[7] The state energy company Eesti Energia was interested in offshore wind energy in 2008.[8]

Other renewables

The rest of Estonia's generation is from other renewable fuels. Wood-based fuels were the second largest source of power in 2016. The rest comes from waste and other biofuels, as well as a small amount of hydropower.[1]

Transmission and trade

Estonia's grid is an important hub as it is connected to Finland in the north, Russia in the east, Latvia and Lithuania in the south. Electricity is traded on the Nordic power market Nord Pool. In 2014–2016, yearly net imports from Finland were equal to 31-67% of consumption. Meanwhile, yearly new exports to Latvia were equal to 57-84% of consumption. Some years there are also exports to Russia.[9]

Between Estonia and Finland there are the submarine Estlink cables.

See also

References
  1. "Capacity and production of power plants". Statistics Estonia. Retrieved 2018-11-04.
  2. "Share of renewables in energy consumption in the EU reached 17% in 2016". Eurostat. 2018-01-25. Retrieved 2018-11-04.
  3. IEA Key stats 2010 pages 50
  4. Liive, Sandor (2007). "Oil Shale Energetics in Estonia" (PDF). Oil Shale. A Scientific-Technical Journal. Estonian Academy Publishers. 24 (1): 1–4. ISSN 0208-189X. Retrieved 2007-10-23.
  5. "Estonia Energy in Figures 2007" (PDF). Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications. 2008: 29. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-16. Retrieved 2009-10-29. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  6. Wind in power 2010 European statistics EWEA February 2011 pages 4 and 11
  7. EU Energy Policy to 2050, EWEA March 2011 pages 43, 45, 55
  8. Eesti Energia suunnittelee suurinvestointeja tuulivoimaan yle 8.5.2008
  9. "Electricity balance sheet". Statistics Estonia. Retrieved 2018-11-04.
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