Comprehensive national energy and climate plan of the Republic of Slovenia.

The Government of the Republic of Slovenia adopted the comprehensive National Energy and Climate Plan of the Republic of Slovenia (NEPN), which was also submitted to the European Commission in accordance with EU Regulation 2018/1999 on the management of the Energy Union and climate measures. NEPN is one of Slovenia's key steps towards climate-neutral Slovenia and the EU by 2050.
The NEPN for the period up to 2030 (with a view to 2040) sets goals, policies and measures on five dimensions of the energy union: 1. decarbonisation (GHG emissions and RES); 2. energy efficiency; 3. energy security; 4. internal market; 5. research, innovation and competitiveness. The key goals until 2030, which are defined in the NEPN, are: reduction of total greenhouse gas emissions by 36%, of which 20% in the non-ETS sector (which is 5 percentage points above Slovenia's accepted commitment); at least a 35% improvement in energy efficiency, which is higher than the target adopted at EU level (32.5%); at least 27% of renewable energy sources, where due to relevant national circumstances, primarily environmental restrictions, Slovenia had to agree to a lower target than the target at EU level (32%) with an effort to increase the ambition in the next NEPN update (2023/24 ); 3% of investment in research and development, of which 1% is public funds. In the years 2022, 2023 and 2024, the following activities will be carried out in connection with the NEPN update: creation and management of climate and energy dialogue at several levels; reporting on the implementation of the adopted NEPN; update of professional bases for NEPN; NEPN update.
In parallel with the preparation of the NEPN, a comprehensive assessment of the effects of the implementation of the NEPN on the environment shall be drawn. As part of the preparation of the NEPN and its comprehensive evaluation, it also took place a discussion regarding the demands of the goals and contributions until the summer of 2030. Broad and discussion took place on a professional basis and was crucial for the achievement consensus of the widest possible range of stakeholders regarding demanding and feasible goals of Slovenia until the summer of 2030, which will take into account important national circumstances and mentioned a corresponding step towards a climate-neutral Slovenia by the summer of 2050. Projects and measures, specified in NEPN, will be in accordance with the Energy Act and in full public interest from the point of view of energy and climate policy. The goal of Slovenia's energy and climate policy is to ensure reliable, safe and competitive energy supply in a sustainable way, so as to ensure the transition to climate neutral society and achieve the goals of sustainable development with the fact that, among other things, encouraging environment for economic development and job creation with high added value, improves the quality of life and increases environmental responsibility and ensures acceptable energy services for residents and the economy. The key challenges for Slovenia in the field of energy and climate policy are: gradual reduction of energy consumption and increase of energy efficiency in all sectors; accelerated development of the electricity distribution network for greater strength and resilience against disturbances that are related to accelerated introduction of e-mobility and accelerated integration of production devices and electricity from renewable sources; additional financial resources should be provided as investments of distribution companies and ensure a sustainable approach when determining the amount of the network fee; effective implementation of infrastructure projects that contribute to the achievement of the goal climate-neutral societies; gradual release of fossil fuels in all sectors; sustainable traffic management and transition to alternative fuels; accelerated development of district heating and cooling systems; decarbonization of natural gas supply and connecting the gas and electricity sectors energy, maintaining the excellence and safe operation of nuclear facilities in Slovenia and preparation of guideline for the decision on the future use of nuclear energy and the possible construction of new nuclear power plants; energy storage and efficient use; reducing the implementation deficit for all actors and at all levels for the whole and successful management and implementation of measures for the transition to a climate-neutral society. The main task of the future development of energy in Slovenia is to ensure a balance between three fundamental pillars of energy policy, which are inseparably intertwined: climate sustainability, reliability of supply and competitiveness of energy supply. An overview of key objectives is here summarized as follows: contribute to the achievement of net zero GHG emissions at the EU level by the summer of 2050, which is the starting point for planning goals, policies and necessary measures until the summer 2030; effective placement in the space for enhanced use of renewable energy sources (RES); reduction of GHG emissions by the summer of 2030 (with the achievement of sectoral goals: also in the agriculture sector, waste management, industry, energy sector); to reduce GHG emissions in buildings by at least 70% by the summer of 2030 compared to the summer of 2005; to achieve at least a 27 percent share of RES in the final use of energy by the summer of 2030 in to achieve at least 2/3 of the energy use in buildings from RES (share of RES use in final use of energy for electricity and district heating); ban on the sale and installation of new heating oil boilers after the summer of 2022; at least a 30 percent share of RES (including waste heat) in the industry, 1% annual increase in the share of RES in waste heat and cool in district heating and cooling systems; decarbonization of electricity production - gradual relaxation of use of coal: at least for - 30% by the summer of 2030; gradual decarbonization of energy-intensive industry: financial provisions and incentives for restructuring production processes with the introduction of green technologies; greater investments in human resources and new knowledge, needed for the transition to the climate neutral companies in order to reduce the operational deficit.