SAPI: Slovakia Also Needs Wind Energy in Energy Mix

Bratislava, 3 June (TASR) - Slovakia needs wind energy as part of its energy mix, and the government's approach to renewable energy sources, and specifically to wind energy, will be paid for by businesses and households not only through their energy bills but also via energy subsidies, said the Slovak Sustainable Energy Association (SAPI) on Wednesday in response to a statement by Premier Robert Fico (Smer-SD). Following the cabinet meeting on the same day, the prime minister stated that Slovakia doesn't need wind farms and that the government will fulfil only the formal obligations arising from the recovery plan in this regard. According to SAPI, the cabinet is thereby saying that it has no interest in developing the use of cheap sources of electricity, which is the main reason why wind power plants are currently experiencing massive growth worldwide. "Wind and solar power plants aren't being built around the world today because they are green, but because they are among the cheapest sources of new electricity. Countries that develop them gain cheaper energy for both households and industry," noted SAPI director Jan Karaba. SAPI views the prime minister's remarks on Wednesday as a bad signal for both industry and households. According to Karaba, wind farms are being built around the world because of their positive impact on market electricity prices, and increasing the share of domestic renewable energy sources also benefits energy security and prices. "If we generate more electricity domestically from wind and solar power, less money flows abroad for imported fuels, whether it's natural gas or nuclear fuel. This isn't just a matter of environmental protection, but also of energy security and economic competitiveness," added Karaba. According to SAPI, the construction of a new nuclear power plant, presented by the prime minister as a better solution for the energy sector, will probably not be feasible without state subsidies. At current electricity prices, a new nuclear power plant wouldn't be economically viable, and an investor would probably not be able to secure bank financing for it without guarantees and massive subsidies from the state - that is, from the taxes of citizens and industry. "There's no need to choose between nuclear and renewable sources. Slovakia needs both. The difference is that we can build wind farms in a few years, while a new nuclear reactor will cost billions of euros, and we won't be able to use the electricity that it generates until at least 2040," emphasised Karaba. am/df