estonia-2030_en

5.1. Main objectives in the energy sector1. The development of electricity-production capacity needs to focus on supplying Estonia withenergy. New energy-production units need to be positioned efficiently and sustainably.2. Options for supplying Estonia with energy need to be expanded by creating external connectionswith energy networks in the Baltic Sea region.3. The need to avoid any unwanted impact on the climate, achieve a higher share for renewableenergy in the energy supply, ensure the implementation of energy-efficient measures anddecrease the environmental impact of energy production.5.2. The development of electricity-production capacityneeds to focus on supplying Estonia with energy.New energy-production units need to be positionedefficiently and sustainablyIn the current circumstances, Estonia is able to ensure its full supply of electrical energy. In terms ofenergy security, the objective for Estonia to be able to produce all its required electrical energy itselfwill remain also into the future. This does not mean that we should be constantly producing all of therequired energy ourselves but that we should be able to do so in extraordinary circumstances.Looking at the Baltic Sea region, Estonia has no advantage in the production of cheap energy in thelong term. It needs to be considered also that the production of electrical energy is an activity with arelatively low added value yet with a great environmental impact. Thus, the objective for energyproduction is to obtain energy first and foremost for Estonia itself, rather than for exporting.To date, electricity production in Estonia has mainly drawn on oil-shale energy, which will not becompetitive in the long term (for example, due to the increase in environmental charges). For energy-securityand environmental considerations, it is not expedient to have any one fossil source ofenergy to account for such a high proportion of a nation's energy balance, as this entails risks relatedto the security of supply, the energy market and the environment. Accordingly, there is a need toboost the share of other energy sources and develop infrastructure in order to trade more extensivelywith the other EU member states in the energy sector. In the longer term, Estonia will need variousnew types of energy-production units to cover its own consumption; these will need to be plannedand built efficiently and sustainably.To ensure its energy security, Estonia will benefit from an increased focus on more decentralised,44