BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 1. The Estonian
government has put forward the draft of the National Energy Sector
Development Plan (ENMAK 2035) to the Riigikogu for discussion.
The plan lays its cards on the table with key objectives for
Estonia’s energy policy—to keep the lights on, boost national
competitiveness, and pave the way for a clean-energy economy,
Trend reports.
According to Minister of Energy and Environment Andres Sutt,
Estonia’s energy system requires modernization regardless of
external factors.
“The most important goal is to guarantee the future reliability
and crisis resilience of our energy system while keeping prices for
consumers as low as possible,” Sutt said.
“ENMAK 2035 provides a clear roadmap for reducing dependence on
imported fossil fuels while maintaining electricity prices at a
competitive level within the region. These ambitions must not
remain on paper—they must become reality. The strategy sets out the
main directions and principles for the development of Estonia’s
energy sector, which will guide detailed actions during
implementation,” the minister emphasized.
The ball started rolling on the development plan back in 2021,
kicking off with some preliminary analyses, a flurry of
consultations, and a thorough strategic environmental impact
assessment. The draft plan was open for public consultation until
August 29. In total, approximately 340 proposals were received from
stakeholders, businesses, and ministries. The Ministry of Climate
reviewed and incorporated relevant feedback to improve clarity and
balance in the draft.
At the core of the plan is the creation of a diversified energy
production portfolio to ensure the reliability and resilience of
Estonia’s power system at all times. Alongside the optimal use of
domestic renewable resources—such as wind and solar, supported by
storage solutions—the country must also secure sufficient
controllable generation capacity. Much of Estonia’s existing
controllable capacity is outdated and uncompetitive in the
electricity market, so it will be maintained until new generation
facilities are developed.
The plan also highlights the need to strengthen energy networks
to improve reliability during crises. Physical protection of
critical infrastructure and strong cybersecurity are identified as
key components of a modern energy system.
By 2035, Estonia is setting its sights on keeping electricity
prices for all consumer groups—households and industries—under the
average of its neighbors in the region, including Denmark, Latvia,
Lithuania, Poland, Sweden, and Finland. Hitting this target will
hinge on a fresh production blend and strong ties across the
globe.
The development plan foresees a gradual phase-out of operational
subsidies for electricity production. Long-term financing
solutions, with terms of at least 30 years, are planned for
large-scale projects such as offshore wind farms, nuclear power
plants, and pumped-storage facilities to ensure market-based
profitability.
Shifting gears to clean energy is at the heart of ENMAK 2035’s
mission. The ambition to reach 100 percent renewable electricity
consumption will be achieved on a market basis once technologies
become competitive without subsidies—expected in the early
2030s.
Beyond electricity production, ENMAK 2035 addresses the broader
energy sector. In the gas industry, Estonia aims to increase the
share of renewable gas to one-third of total gas consumption by
2035. In district heating, the goal is to reduce regional price
disparities and gradually integrate new energy-efficient
technologies such as heat pumps and thermal storage systems.
Within the transportation domain, adhering to the stipulations
set forth by the European Union, a minimum of 26 percent of
ultimate energy utilization is mandated to derive from renewable
energy vectors by the year 2035. This initiative will be bolstered
by the augmentation of charging ecosystems and the advocacy for
alternative energy sources.
The administration is poised to present the conclusive strategic
development framework for legislative endorsement in December
subsequent to parliamentary deliberations.
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