Hi Nina! Since we know each other well, I suggest being on a first-name basis. So, how are you? How did you spend your holiday?
Hi, Matej. I love spending time at the coast, so that’s what we did by revisiting some of my favourite islands.
You have now been in the position of Director of the Slovenian Photovoltaic Association for over two years. You have an excellent overview of the entire photovoltaic industry on a national level. How would you describe it?
It has been almost exactly two years. I came into the position when the growth was exponential and in these two years, a lot has happened. That is in terms of legal framework and market growth and changes. I can say it’s a very dynamic sector, never a dull moment. Here, the solar industry ranges from photovoltaic panel manufacturers to mounting structures, metric systems, safety fuses and batteries. It is also quite fragmented.
We naturally had exponential growth of solar installers that followed high demand. In our association, the core of members are experienced companies that have been working in solar for over 15 years.
Our members cover various fields within photovoltaics and intersect with related areas, such as battery storage and electro mobility.
The association is also a member of Solar Power Europe and active in its endeavours, so my overview goes beyond the national market- we are in a sector highly impacted by global market development, wouldn’t you agree?
In recent years, there has been a strong trend towards self-sufficiency in individual households in Slovenia.
You probably mean the effects of now ending mechanisms of net metering that were the main factor in bursting high demand in the residential (solar) sector, focused on rooftop solar. We now have over 50.000 residential solar power plants. And this year, with net metering fading out (you can still install until the end of the year and connect next year under specific conditions and stay in net metering). Despite the high number of connection permits issued under this mechanism, the expected growth will not meet last year’s expectations. According to the numbers I have, we’re at last year’s numbers- so not bad installation numbers, but practically no growth (as we have been used to in the last years all around Europe). We estimate that close to half in the last two years issued permits will not result in investment. There are several reasons for that.
As the Association, we have managed to realize the legislative change that will enable the instalment of residential solar under net metering in the last quarter of this year and secure the grid connection next year (under clear conditions). We’ve discussed this with DSOs prior to the change because they were faced with unprecedented demand for first permits and then connection requests.
If we look at our solar capacity by sector division, yes, the majority of installed solar capacity is still residential self-sufficient solar power plants.
With the change of regime, there is a drastic decline in residential solar demand. Vast subsidies for investments help, though. The ROI with subsidies is estimated to be close to what we were used to with net- metering. There are new interesting products emerging.
However, if I am not mistaken, several large solar energy investment projects have been announced.
Yes, with much needed legislative changes, there are now better conditions to realize an utility scale project. We are still waiting for the bigger roll-out, though. Currently, the largest solar power plant in Slovenia is still the hybrid solar power plant in Brežice, with a capacity of 6 MW – it’s hybrid with the existing hydro power. However, solar power plants with a capacity of 10 MW (former landfill in Maribor), 13 MW at Prapretno, 8MW in Lenart and several others are in the pipeline or even being implemented. We also have a very ambitious 140 MW floating solar power plant on Družimersko Lake, a former mining lake, which will be by far the largest if everything goes well and the project is realized.
What about the business environment and the legislative framework?
As I’ve said- we have been facing many changes in the last two years- which are both good and bad. We at the Slovenian Photovoltaic Association were active in preparing recommendations, and suggestions on the proposals of legal acts and that is an ongoing process. We have been faced with a change in the narrative on renewables in Slovenia. Solar and wind, as you know, are faced with a lot of negativism, popularism, and internet expertism (if I may say so) which has a negative effect on the trust in solar. And that is something we need to address- not only in Slovenia- Europe wide. In general, if you look only at numbers- installation capacity- we are not that bad- we could have been much better.
Now, we are dealing with much more complex issues rather than basic awareness on solar and its benefits for users. We are facing problems with permits, unnecessary bureaucratic burdens in solar projects, preparing everything to enable more innovative concepts, improve flexibility, seek synergies with other sectors (agriculture for example- agriPV is all the rage in Europe and integrated PV). We see pilot projects, big investments, strategic decisions by governments to fight climate change with such synergies and so on. But, as I said- it’s a process- although we do wish that it would go faster, I must admit.
What is your vision for solar energy in the future?
For Slovenia?
Well, we have a long way to go and a lot of solar to install. The potential is really good here on the sunny side of the Alps. But, we do need accompanying measures, investments, and regulations (not overregulation) if our goal is to optimize our energy mix and truly use solar energy to the fullest. We have seen solar deliver globally, not only in Europe. Let us continue on that path and learn from the experience of those who are ahead and have developed appropriate solutions (or at least not repeat their mistakes).
What about the AURORA project and your ambassadorship in this project?
I liked the idea of ambassadorship in the AURORA project as soon as you introduced it to me. I consider it an honour to be an ambassadress for such a progressive movement. I like the idea of community solar power plants. We need more of them. They offer opportunities to invest in solar and be more energy efficient even if you don’t live in a house.
They also bring people together, although that might not be the easiest part of these projects, and significantly increase interest in the field of energy generation. There are a few effective models for community solar and this is one where I am glad to be involved as an ambassadress.
