European Recovery and Resilience Funds – Together towards the goal: energy efficiency in the economy

Compared to a number of other EU Member States, Slovenia has a relatively high proportion of energy-intensive manufacturing activities. In 2020, the energy intensity of Slovenia's economy was approximately 37% above the EU average.

Slovenia is also addressing measures to improve energy efficiency in the economy within the framework of the Recovery and Resilience Plan (RRP), by implementing the reform and the investment that fall within the competence of the Ministry of the Economy, Labour and Sports and the Ministry of Infrastructure and Energy. 

Energy efficiency in the economy – reform

As part of the reform, the Government has prepared an Action Plan for Energy Efficiency Management in the Economy by 2030 in order to improve management efficiency, which sets out measures to achieve greater energy efficiency, primarily through the digitalisation of procedures in energy audits. The aim is to reduce energy consumption and expenses. This will contribute to the increased security of energy supply, increased competitiveness of the economy and creating new jobs.

The Action Plan:

• addresses the large potential for energy savings in industry through measures to introduce more energy-efficient equipment, improve access to information for small and medium-sized enterprises and promote energy audits and energy management systems;
• sets out measures to increase transparency, in particular through the digitalisation of energy auditing procedures. This will provide a more in-depth insight into the potential of the economy and help identify the financing gap to ensure a rapid and efficient transition to a more sustainable economy.

The milestone in implementation of the reform was included by Slovenia in the fourth request for payment.

Energy efficiency and decarbonisation of the economy – investment

The purpose of the investment is to support the decarbonisation of the economy and contribute to higher energy efficiency and greater competitiveness of companies.

A total of EUR 16.91 million from the Recovery and Resilience Facility has been allocated for the implementation of the investment.

As part of the investment, the Ministry of Infrastructure and Energy, in cooperation with Borzen, has opened up a tender for grants for electricity storage systems. The goal is to provide at least 56 electricity storage units for businesses. The funds allocated by tender were approved and 231 positive decisions were issued (providing support to almost 200 businesses).

The investment is part of the RRP measures that support the objectives of the European REPowerEU plan to reduce energy dependence, increase autonomy in electricity supply for businesses, reduce dependence on energy price fluctuations, and accelerate the green transition.

The milestone in the implementation of the investment was included in the fourth payment request, for which Slovenia has already received funds. The target of the investment will form part of the seventh and final request for payment of funds from the Recovery and Resilience Facility, which Slovenia will submit to Brussels no later than by 30 September 2026.