The illusion of a green transition in Slovenia by 2050

Senegačnik, Andrej (author), Sekavčnik, Mihael (author)

This study analyzes the possibilities of phasing out fossil and nuclear energy sources for Slovenia by 2050. Alternative carbon-free sources include renewable energy sources (RES) i.e. electricity, synthetic fuels and hydrogen from water electrolysis. The model is based on the use of currently mature low-carbon technologies and is adapted to Slovenia’s natural conditions. Photovoltaic panels (PV) and hydropower plants are used for the majority of renewable electricity generation. To bridge the winter period with minimal PV production, storage with a pumped storage power plant is planned. One of the assumptions of the national climate strategy has been incorporated into the model, which envisages zero growth in final energy consumption by 2050. The result of the paper is an assessment of what some of the basic characteristics of the Slovenian energy system would look like after the phase-out of fossil and nuclear energy sources. The estimated storage capacity required is 5.1 MWh/capita. Abandoning fossil fuels with the currently mature RES technologies is not realistically feasible for technical and economic reasons.

• Language: English
• Keywords: phasing out fossil energy sources, phasing out nuclear energy sources, renewable energy sources, photovoltaic modules, pumped hydro storage, green transition
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: FS - Faculty of Mechanical Engineering
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Year: 2024
• Number of pages: Str. 405-416
• Numbering: Vol. 70, no. 9/10
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-163899
• UDC: 502/504
• ISSN on article: 0039-2480
• DOI: 10.5545/sv-jme.2024.1007
• COBISS.SI-ID: 211332099
• Publication date in RUL: 14.10.2024

SENEGAČNIK, Andrej and SEKAVČNIK, Mihael, 2024, The illusion of a green transition in Slovenia by 2050. Strojniški vestnik [online]. 2024. Vol. 70, no. 9/10, p. 405–416. [Accessed 26 April 2025]. DOI 10.5545/sv-jme.2024.1007. Retrieved from: https://repozitorij.uni-lj.si/IzpisGradiva.php?lang=eng&id=163899

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Strojniški vestnik
• Shortened title: Stroj. vestn.
• Publisher: Zveza strojnih inženirjev in tehnikov Slovenije [etc.], = Association of Mechanical Engineers and Technicians of Slovenia [etc.
• ISSN: 0039-2480
• COBISS.SI-ID: 762116

Licences

• License: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Description: This is the standard Creative Commons license that gives others maximum freedom to do what they want with the work as long as they credit the author.

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Title: Iluzija zelenega prehoda v Sloveniji do leta 2050
• Keywords: zeleni prehod, opustitev jedrske energije, opustitev fosilnih goriv, obnovljivi viri energije, fotonapetostni sistemi, črpalno akumulacijske hidroelektrarne, energijska samozadostnost