Electricity in Estonia in 2023

In 2023, Estonia had a diverse energy mix for electricity generation. The largest share, at around 42%, was imported from other nations. Meanwhile, fossil fuel and oil, both contributors to greenhouse gas emissions, held an almost equal share at just above 30% and 25% respectively. As for low-carbon energy sources, their total share rounded up to approximately 27% in Estonia’s electricity production. Each source of low-carbon energy, wind, solar, and biofuels, accounted for more than 7% each, with wind being the most prevalent at around 10%.

Suggestions

To increase low-carbon electricity generation, Estonia can focus on expanding its existing wind energy infrastructure. As proven by Denmark with its impressive 59% wind energy contribution, it is possible for small countries to significantly rely on wind energy for electricity generation. Furthermore, Finland and Slovakia, that are geographically similar to Estonia, successfully harness nuclear energy to produce more than 40% of their electricity. Estonia could therefore consider the expansion of nuclear energy in its electricity generation portfolio as well.

History

The history of low-carbon electricity in Estonia demonstrates a rather gradual increase in production with some fluctuations. In the first decade of the 21st century, Estonia saw a moderate growth in biofuel and wind energy production. Between 2009 and 2010, both wind and biofuel energy generated increased by 0.1 terawatt-hours (TWh) and 0.4 TWh respectively. This progress, however, encountered minor setbacks in subsequent years with small dips in wind and biofuel electricity generation, notably in 2013 and 2016. Nevertheless, in the early 2020s, there was a significant surge in biofuel production with an impressive 0.6 TWh increase in 2020. On the other hand, in 2023, biofuel generation did see a substantial reduction, falling by 1.9 TWh. Despite this drop, both wind and solar energy witnessed a steady progression, each increasing by 0.2 TWh in the same year.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade

Maximum Imports

Data Sources