Slovenia to invest EUR 174 million in electricity grids

An investment of EUR 174 million in the modernization of the transmission and distribution networks in Slovenia is expected to increase their capacity and supply reliability, and enable faster integration of renewable energy sources.

The projects of the five distribution system operators (DSOs) and transmission system operator (TSO) will be co-funded with EUR 59 million from the European Union’s Modernisation Fund, according to the Ministry of the Environment, Climate and Energy.

Minister Bojan Kumer signed four contracts and two decisions for network modernization with CEOs of the six state-owned companies. Of note, ELES is formally the DSO, while the five power distribution firms carry out the DSO tasks.

Slovenia is continuing to invest in strengthening the power system, which is a key infrastructure for the energy transition, the ministry stressed.

Kumer: The energy transition actually begins with the grid

The investments will be implemented by DSOs Elektro Ljubljana, Elektro Gorenjska, Elektro Celje, Elektro Maribor, and Elektro Primorska, and TSO ELES.

Kumer underscored that a strong grid is the foundation of the energy transition.

“The energy transition actually begins with the grid. Today’s investments will enable greater grid capacity, higher supply reliability, and faster integration of renewable energy sources into the Slovenian power system,” he stressed.

A project for the modernization of urban networks, implemented by Elektro Ljubljana, is for upgrading the distribution network in urban areas, including expanding transformer capacities, network cabling, and digitalization of key energy facilities.

Elektro Ljubljana is running the most valuable project

The EUR 53.2 million endeavor has received support of EUR 19.6 million.

Elektro Gorenjska will upgrade critical electricity distribution infrastructure including the Trata and Brnik substations. The company has been allocated EUR 14.9 million for the investment, worth EUR 32.9 million.

Elektro Celje’s project envisages the refurbishment of high-voltage and medium-voltage switchgear and the replacement of transformers in several substations. The EUR 11 million project won EUR 5.5 million from the EU fund.

ELES is investing EUR 12.9 million

Elektro Maribor will build a new double-circuit 110 kV transmission line Murska Sobota – Lendava. Co-funding of EUR 11.1 million has been approved for the EUR 32.3 million project.

Elektro Primorska will reconstruct 20 kV switchgear at the Vrtojba substation. The investment is estimated at EUR 3.5 million, of which EUR 1.7 million is support from the EU fund.

TSO ELES plans to upgrade the 110 kV transmission line Dravograd–Velenje. The EUR 12.9 million project has received EUR 5.7 million as co-funding.

EUR 300 million secured by 2030

The Modernisation Fund is a financial mechanism within the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) dedicated to modernizing energy systems and improving energy efficiency in member states.

Slovenia has more than EUR 300 million available from the facility until 2030. The grants are primarily intended for grid refurbishment, renewable energy sources, and energy efficiency.

The ministry is currently preparing a public call for co-funding investments in the smart electricity grid for the 2026-2030 period. EUR 69 million has been allocated for the activity.

The call, expected in April, will be aimed at strengthening the power grid to enhance renewables development, the electrification of heating, and development of e-mobility.