Slovakia's Energy Policy Review
Overview
The Slovak Republic imports nearly all of its natural gas and crude oil from a single supplier, the Russian Federation. This dependency makes energy security a top priority in the country's energy policy agenda. The government is actively working to diversify energy sources and improve regional cooperation, particularly in the development of gas and electricity interconnections.
Energy Security
- Current Dependency: The Slovak Republic relies heavily on a single supplier for natural gas and crude oil.
- Steps Taken: The government is taking measures to enhance energy security by diversifying supplies and learning from past disruptions, such as the gas supply issue in 2009.
- Regional Cooperation: Enhancing regional cooperation, particularly in gas and electricity interconnections, is crucial. The Slovak Republic has coupled its electricity market with the Czech Republic's and supports plans for a North-South pipeline connecting planned LNG terminals in Croatia and Poland.
Climate Change and Environment
- Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Although there has been a significant decline in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions since 1990, Slovakia remains a GHG-intensive economy according to OECD standards.
- Energy-Related CO2 Emissions: Energy-related CO2 emissions account for over 70% of total GHG emissions.
- Decarbonization Efforts: Nuclear power and renewable energy can play key roles in decarbonizing the electricity production sector. Improving energy efficiency, especially in the transport and building sectors, is also critical.
District Heating
- Potential: District heating is a notable area with significant potential for reducing national GHG emissions.
Policy Analysis
The report provides a detailed analysis of the Slovak Republic's energy policies, focusing on:
- General Energy Policy: Overview, supply and demand, energy policy institutions, key energy policy directions, energy security, regional initiatives, market reforms, energy prices, taxes, and subsidies.
- Energy and Climate Change: CO2 emissions from fuel combustion, targets and objectives, emissions projections, policies and measures, air quality.
- Energy Efficiency: Overview, institutional framework, policies and measures.
- Sector Analysis: Renewable energy and natural gas.
Recommendations
The report offers recommendations to improve energy security, reduce GHG emissions, and enhance energy efficiency. These include:
- Energy Security: Diversifying energy sources and improving regional cooperation.
- Climate Change: Implementing policies to decarbonize the energy sector and improve energy efficiency.
- Energy Efficiency: Enhancing the institutional framework and implementing effective policies and measures.
Overall, the report aims to guide the Slovak Republic towards a more secure and sustainable energy future.
