Press release on the occasion of the International Sava River Day

(Ljubljana, 1 June 2025) – Electricity production from hydropower will play a major role in the green transition and increasing Slovenia’s electricity self-sufficiency. The Sava River, which today marks its international day, will greatly contribute to this. Holding Slovenske elektrarne, the 49-per cent owner of hydro power plants on the lower Sava River and the concession holder for the use of the energy potential of the middle Sava River, consistently observes environmental protection requirements and the principles of sustainable development when siting new hydro energy facilities, while simultaneously ensuring flood safety and suitable habitats for aquatic organisms, development and maintenance of riverbanks, tourism development, groundwater level regulation, etc.

The HSE Group pays special attention to hydro energy in its development plans and complies with the National Energy and Climate Plan (NECP), which anticipates the development of additional capacities for the production of electricity from water sources in Slovenia in the coming years. The production of electricity from water is one of the most sustainable methods of power generation. The hydro power plants of the HSE Group operate in accordance with the latest environmental standards and provide stability to Slovenia’s power system. In 2024, the HSE Group generated some 54 per cent of its production from hydro power plants on Slovenian rivers. The hydro power plants situated on the Sava River produced more than 100,000 gigawatt hours of electricity last year, which is about 21 per cent of all electricity generated in hydro power plants on Slovenian rivers and approximately 30 per cent of the entire potential of the Sava River.

On this note, Uroš Podobnik, Chief Operating Officer of HSE, emphasises, “Hydro power plants are multi-purpose facilities that ensure locally generated electricity with a minimal environmental impact. In 2024, the HSE Group generated almost 60 per cent of its production from hydro power plants on Slovenian rivers, which ensures the stability of our power system and accelerates Slovenia’s green transition. When planning further power generation from water sources, it will be crucial not only to speed up formal procedures, but also to proactively cooperate with local communities. The municipalities of the upper and lower Sava River pose a good example of communication and cooperation that, in addition to local support of, and trust in, the project, also resulted in the mutually beneficial coexistence of people and the energy facility. I wish for the project to overcome all official procedures and to commence its implementation as soon as possible.” He further added that hydro power plants contribute significantly to the development of surrounding areas, management of watercourses and provision of flood safety for neighbouring residential, agricultural and other land.

In the coming years, the NECP envisages the development of additional capacities for power generation from water sources in Slovenia. Currently the largest energy project in Slovenia in hydroelectric power generation, which is being carried out under the auspices of HSE, is the construction of hydro power plants on the middle Sava River. Siting is already under way for the first segment (Suhadol, Trbovlje and Renke) and opinions on the prepared study of variants, i.e. the decree on the most appropriate variant, are being supplemented, and the environmental report is also in the supplementation phase. The first three hydro power plants on the middle Sava River will have a planned total installed capacity of 101 MW, and an estimated annual production of 400 GWh, which is sufficient to supply some 100,000 average households. This will make a significant contribution to the planned development of large hydro power plants in the 2020–2040 period, as the NECP envisages an increase in the installed capacity of large hydro power plants by 143 MW before 2040.

Public Relations and Marketing Communication Departments of HSE

 

FACTS ABOUT THE ENERGY USE OF THE SAVA RIVER

• Eight hydro power plants are situated on the Sava River in Slovenia, i.e. four in the chain of Savske elektrarne Ljubljana and four in the chain of hydro power plants on the lower Sava River.
• The currently exploited energy potential of the Sava River is 907 gigawatt hours, which supplies approximately 224,000 households.
• If the energy potential of the Sava River was exploited in full, i.e. all 2,794 gigawatt hours, the power of the river could supply as many as 689,000 households.
• In 2024, the Sava River generated as much as 21 per cent of all electricity produced from Slovenian rivers.