The status quo and future of hydropower in Slovenia

Hočevar, Marko (author), Novak, Lovrenc (author), Drešar, Primož (author), Rak, Gašper (author)

Slovenia is a Central European country with a long history of hydropower. This paper gives a brief introduction to the current status of hydropower utilization and informs about some selected successful examples of hydropower plant operation. One such example is fish passage and flood risk reduction on the lower reaches of the Sava River at the Brežice hydroelectric power plant, taking into account a complex of morphological, hydrological, hydraulic, and anthropogenic factors. Future development is considered against the background of the National Energy and Climate Plan, which does not envisage any significant expansion in the capacity or function of the hydropower sector. The envisaged capacity increase is from the current 4430 GWh to around 4580 GWh by 2030. It is shown that the current energy storage capacity of Slovenia’s only pumped storage plant will be sufficient to offset the introduction of new non-dispatchable renewable energy sources by 2030. By around 2028, the country will have a need for electrical energy storage from renewable energy sources, reaching a modest total of only 6140 MWh per year. However, by sticking to the unambitious National Energy and Climate Plan, Slovenia will miss the opportunity to remain self-sufficient in electricity generation and significantly increase its share of renewable energy sources. The National Energy and Climate Plan aims to increase the share of renewable energy in total energy generation from 25% in 2020 to 27% by 2030.

• Language: English
• Keywords: hydropower, energy storage, energy system model, environmental impact, national energy and climate plan
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: FS - Faculty of Mechanical Engineering; FGG - Faculty of Civil and Geodetic Engineering
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Year: 2022
• Number of pages: 13 str.
• Numbering: Vol. 15, iss. 19, art. 6977
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-142446
• UDC: 502/504:626/627(497.4)
• ISSN on article: 1996-1073
• COBISS.SI-ID: 123711491
• Publication date in RUL: 09.11.2022

HOČEVAR, Marko, NOVAK, Lovrenc, DREŠAR, Primož and RAK, Gašper, 2022, The status quo and future of hydropower in Slovenia. Energies [online]. 2022. Vol. 15, no. 19,  6977. [Accessed 11 April 2025]. Retrieved from: https://repozitorij.uni-lj.si/IzpisGradiva.php?lang=eng&id=142446

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Energies
• Shortened title: Energies
• Publisher: Molecular Diversity Preservation International
• ISSN: 1996-1073
• COBISS.SI-ID: 518046745

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Keywords: hidro energija, shranjevanje energije, model energijskega sistema, okoljski vpliv, Nacionalni energetski in podnebni načrt

Projects

• Funder: ARRS - Slovenian Research Agency
• Project number: P2-0401-2022
• Name: Energetsko strojništvo

• Funder: ARRS - Slovenian Research Agency
• Project number: P2-0180-2022
• Name: Vodarstvo in geotehnika: orodja in metode za analize in simulacije procesov ter razvoj tehnologij