Total installed solar photovoltaic (PV) capacity in Slovakia was approximately 631 MW. ⁶

By 2030, Slovakia is projected to achieve a total solar PV capacity of 1,200 MW according to the National Energy and Climate Plan (NECP) ⁷

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• Nuclear power – $102/MWh
• Solar energy – $105/MWh
• Fossil fuels – $178- $189/MWh

In 2023, the distribution of electricity generation sources in Slovakia is as follows: ¹⁰

• Nuclear power: 59.8%
• Hydropower: 21.6%
• Natural gas: 6.9%
• Bioenergy: 2.9%
• Solar energy: 1.7%
• Coal: 1.3%
• Oil: 1.2%
• Other renewables: 3%.

Slovakia enjoys nearly 24 hours of electricity availability on average each day, showcasing a low frequency of power outages and high electricity coverage. This high level of daily electricity availability is attributed to the country’s strong energy infrastructure and its reliance on low-carbon energy sources. With more than 80% of its electricity coming from nuclear and hydropower, power outages are rare. Additionally, transmission and distribution losses are around 4.85%, reflecting efficient energy management. ⁴¹⁰

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As of 2023, Slovakia has seen significant growth in residential solar panel installations, with over 53,000 systems supported by the Slovak Innovation and Energy Agency’s rebate program and around 41,000 households benefiting from the “Green for Households” initiative.

This brings the total number of residential solar panel installations to approximately 94,000, reflecting the country’s commitment to renewable energy adoption.

Currently, Slovakia generates solar-powered energy from 2 bigger solar power plants: Badin and L’adovo, and 3 smaller plants: Hurbanovo, Funa and Lazany, as well as 4 solar parks under development. ^13141516

The demand for off-grid solar panels in Slovakia is currently driven by government incentives, such as the “Green for Households” initiative, which supports small-scale solar projects, especially in rural areas. This program offers subsidies for various off-grid solutions, including photovoltaic systems (up to 10 kW), solar water heaters, heat pumps, and small wind turbines. Off-grid installations are most common in rural homes, agricultural facilities, remote villages, and public institutions, where they provide energy independence, reduce operational costs, and enhance energy security. ¹²¹⁷¹⁸

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The on-grid market demand for solar panels in Slovakia has experienced strong growth, driven by both residential and commercial sectors. In 2023, 220 MW of new solar capacity was added, with projections suggesting an additional 300 MW annually in 2024 and 2025.

Key factors fueling this growth include government incentives like feed-in tariffs and grants, declining solar costs, and favorable regulatory conditions, including simplified permitting and net metering policies. These elements are particularly encouraging for businesses to expand their solar energy adoption, contributing to a growing market.

• The average monthly salary in Slovakia is approximately $1,246. ²²
• Solar Photovoltaic Installer: the average monthly salary is approximately $1,539. ²³
• Solar Energy Systems Engineer: the average monthly salary is approximately $ 2,060. ²⁴

The current population of Slovakia is 5,492,999. ²⁵

Estimate for Factory Rent ²⁶

The average monthly rent of industrial and logistics premises in Slovakia is approximately $5.16 per square meter.

Industrial Electricity Rates ³

The average electricity price for businesses in Slovakia is approximately $0.298 per kWh.

Water Costs ²⁷

In Slovakia, the water tariff for commercial and business users averages around $1.11 per cubic meter for drinking water and $1.06 per cubic meter for sewage services, excluding VAT.

Salaries and Wages ²³²⁴

Monthly salaries of workers in solar industry in Slovakia ranges from $1,539 to $2,060, depending on the position.

Rent for Office Space ²⁸

The average monthly rent for office space in Bratislava’s Central Business District is around $16.33 per square meter, up 11% from last year. Prime rents can reach $20.01 per square meter, driven by rising demand for quality office spaces.

Insurance ²⁹

The average spending per capita for non-life insurance in Slovakia was $244.4 in 2019.

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Energy Mix

Slovakia’s electricity generation is predominantly low-carbon, with over 87% of its electricity derived from renewable and nuclear sources. Fossil fuels contribute less than 10%, with natural gas at nearly 7% and coal and oil combined at less than 3%. The country also has a minor presence of biofuels and solar energy, each contributing under 3%.

Key Institutions

• Ministry of Economy – responsible for overall energy policy and regulation.
• Slovenská elektrizačná prenosová sústava (SEPS) – operates the electricity transmission system, ensuring stability and efficiency in the grid.
• Regulatory Office for Network Industries (ÚRSO) – oversees pricing and market regulations to promote competition and protect consumers.

Export / Import

Slovakia has significant electricity interconnection capacity, exceeding 40% of its generation capacity, which supports significant cross-border electricity trade with neighboring countries like Hungary, the Czech Republic, and Austria. The planned expansion of nuclear capacity will be paired with new interconnections, such as with Hungary, to reduce congestion. By 2030, Slovakia’s interconnection level is expected to reach 52%, further enhancing energy security and market competition.

Policy Goals

Slovakia aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 12% by 2030 compared to 2005 levels, in line with EU climate goals. The country’s strategy focuses on:

• Low-Carbon Energy: Prioritizing nuclear energy and increasing the share of renewable sources like solar, wind, and biomass.
• Heating Sector Decarbonization: Modernizing heat networks to reduce emissions from fossil fuel-dependent heating.
• Energy Efficiency: Improving energy efficiency in sectors such as residential heating, industry, and transportation.
• Coal Phase-Out: Developing a strategy to reduce coal dependency, with measures to support affected regions and industries.

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Act on Energy – the primary regulation governing the construction and operation of solar energy plants in Slovakia. This act mandates that any new plant must comply with national energy policy and undergo a series of approvals before construction can begin. Specifically, a certificate for construction must be obtained from the Ministry of Economy, which confirms that the proposed project aligns with energy policy goals. The application process for this certificate requires detailed project information and opinions from relevant distribution and transmission system operators, particularly for larger installations exceeding 1 MW capacity.

Environmental Impact Assessment – The EIA process evaluates potential environmental effects, particularly if they exceed certain capacity thresholds (e.g., 50 MW). and is governed by the Act on Environmental Impact Assessment.

Connection to the Grid – The regulations stipulate that renewable energy sources, including solar power plants, must be given priority connection to the electricity grid. This means that grid operators are obligated to facilitate the integration of solar energy into the existing infrastructure without discrimination against renewable sources. However, many potential producers have faced difficulties connecting their installations to local distribution systems due to capacity constraints.

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Financial Incentives

The Slovak Innovation and Energy Agency (SIEA) has allocated $156.1 million in 2023 to provide tax rebates covering up to 50% of costs associated with the purchase and installation of solar hot water heaters, heat pumps, biomass systems, and photovoltaic systems up to 10 kW. This initiative aims to reduce the financial burden on citizens and businesses, thereby encouraging the adoption of renewable energy technologies. Since its inception in 2015, SIEA has facilitated approximately €111 million in rebates for over 53,000 installations.

Development of Battery Storage Technologies

The Slovak government is also focusing on the development of battery storage technologies as part of its renewable energy strategy. A significant investment is underway to construct the largest battery storage facility in Slovakia, which will be associated with a new photovoltaic power plant. This facility aims to enhance energy reliability and integration into the national grid, supporting the growing demand for renewable energy sources.

Grants for New Projects 

Under the Recovery Plan, the Ministry of Economy has initiated grants aimed at constructing new green power plants. The first round of grants provided $19 million, supporting around 94 projects, including solar installations. Future calls are expected to allocate nearly $147.5 million specifically for investments in renewable energy sources, including solar projects.

Feed-in Tariffs

The feed-in tariff system in Slovakia has undergone significant changes over the years. Originally, a fixed feed-in tariff was guaranteed for each generator of electricity from renewable energy sources (RES) for a period of 15 years following the commissioning of the plant. This support scheme was instrumental in driving rapid development in the solar sector, particularly during 2010 and 2011.

However, due to concerns about the rapid expansion of solar installations and its impact on grid stability, the government introduced a special fee known as the G-tariff in 2014. This fee effectively reduced the financial support for solar projects by imposing additional costs on producers, which has been criticized as a “solar tax” by various stakeholders.

Educational Initiatives

The government is also promoting educational initiatives to raise awareness about solar energy among schools. Projects like those undertaken by SPP aim to provide clean solar energy solutions to educational institutions, helping them reduce electricity costs while promoting sustainable practices.

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Solartec-Lucenec Solar PV Park

• Capacity: 34 MW
• Location: Banská Bystrica
• Details: The Solartec-Lucenec Solar PV Park is a ground-mounted solar power project developed by Solartec Holding, commissioned in 2011 after completing construction.

Solar Park L’adovo

• Capacity: 23 MW
• Location:L’adovo
• Details: Developed by Solartec, The L’adovo Solar Park is a large-scale solar power plant and one of the significant contributors to Slovakia’s solar energy landscape. Commissioned in 2011, this project aims to enhance renewable energy generation in the region and supports Slovakia’s commitment to increasing its renewable energy share.

Solar Park Dolný Badín

• Capacity: 5.994 MW
• Location: Dolný Badín
• Details: This solar park, launched in 2011, consists of six distinct parts, each with an installed capacity of 0.999 MWp, totaling approximately 5.994 MWp. It features 26,640 polycrystalline panels installed over an area of 188,252 m². The predicted annual production is around 6,978,000 kWh, which covers the annual consumption of about 1,680 households, saving approximately 4,880 tons of CO2 emissions annually.

Železiarne Podbrezová Rooftop Photovoltaic Power Plant

• Capacity: Estimated annual production of 3.340 MW
• Location: Podbrezová
• Details: This upcoming rooftop photovoltaic power plant will utilize over 6,700 photovoltaic panels and is expected to be the largest of its kind in Slovakia upon completion. The project represents an investment of approximately €3 million and aims to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by around 440 tons annually.

CTParks Solar Power Plants

• Capacity: 1.26 MWp (combined)
• Location:Bratislava, Trnava, Žilina
• Details:Developed for three industrial parks (CTParks) by CTP and Photon Energy, these rooftop installations include capacities of 407.68 kWp in Bratislava, 354.90 kWp in Trnava, and 499.59 kWp in Žilina. The plants were commissioned between May and September 2022 as part of CTP’s sustainability initiative aimed at making their industrial parks energy-positive through the integration of photovoltaics and green hydrogen storage.

SPP Photovoltaic Power Plant

• Capacity: 629.35 kWp
• Location: Michalovce
• Details: Commissioned by Slovakia’s energy supplier SPP, this photovoltaic power plant began trial operations in July 2024 and is now fully operational. It consists of 1,535 photovoltaic panels and is expected to produce up to 720 MWh annually, significantly reducing emissions by approximately 200 tons per year. The project is part of SPP’s broader initiative to expand renewable energy solutions for schools, aiming to lower their electricity costs by up to 30%.

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Green Energy

• Headquarters:Bratislava, Slovakia
• Website:https://greenenergy.sk/en/
• Details:GreenEnergy is a leading Slovak renewable energy company with over 15 years of experience. It has completed more than 1,000 solar installations across Slovakia, generating over 100 MW of capacity. The company provides tailored solutions for residential, commercial, and industrial clients, offering full-service support, including design, installation, maintenance, and financing.

Solargis

• Headquarters: Bratislava, Slovakia
• Website: solargis.com
• Details: Solargis provides solar resource assessment and monitoring services that help optimize solar project development. They have supported over 200 solar projects across Slovakia by providing data-driven solutions for site selection and performance analysis.

Solartec Holding

• Headquarters: Banská Bystrica, Slovakia
• Website:solartec.sk
• Details: Solartec is a prominent developer of solar power projects, operating the Solartec-Lucenec Solar PV Park with a capacity of 34 MW. They have developed multiple smaller installations totaling over 50 MW across various regions in Slovakia.

VP Solar

• Headquarters:Bratislava, Slovakia
• Website:https://www.pvsolars.eu/
• Details:VP Solar specializes in photovoltaic systems and has completed over 1,000 residential installations totaling approximately 5 MW of capacity. They provide comprehensive services from design to installation.

Elvosolar

• Headquarters: Bratislava, Slovakia
• Website:elvosolar.sk
• Details: Elvosolar specializes in the installation of solar photovoltaic systems and has completed over 500 installations, contributing approximately 3 MW of capacity to residential and commercial clients throughout Slovakia.

Solar System

• Headquarters:Nitra, Slovakia
• Website:https://solarsystem.sk/
• Details:Solar System is a Slovak company specializing in the design, installation, and maintenance of photovoltaic solar power systems, offering tailored solutions for residential, commercial, and industrial clients to promote sustainable energy use.

Acrosun s.r.o.

• Headquarters:Bratislava, Slovakia
• Website:acrosun.sk
• Details:Acrosun focuses on renewable energy solutions with a portfolio that includes over 20 MW of installed photovoltaic systems across commercial and residential projects.

Tamesol

• Headquarters: Spain (operating in Slovakia)
• Website:tamesol.com
• Details: Tamesol manufactures and supplies high-quality PV solar panels for the Slovak market, with an annual production capacity of around 100 MW for their facilities across Europe, including installations specifically designed for Slovak conditions.

ContourGlobal PLC

• Headquarters: London, United Kingdom
• Website: contourglobal.com
• Details: ContourGlobal operates the 9 MW ZSE Solar Park near Bratislava and has been involved in other renewable energy projects across Slovakia.