Solar thermal energy in
Latvia
General
Large
scale hydro-energy is the dominant RES-E energy technology (94% of all
RES-E in 2004). Technologies increasing in importance are small-scale
hydropower and onshore wind power. Biomass (wood) is used in
centralized, local and individual heating systems, and its share in
energy supply (heating and electricity production) was 45 % in 2004.
The
Latvian energy policy has been laid down in the strategy paper
‘Guidelines for Development of Energy Sector for 2007-2016’. Main
topic are to ensure security of supply, improve infrastructure,
implement energy efficiency measures and to increase effective use of
renewable sources of energy and energy production in cogeneration (CHP)
processes.
From the EU Structural Funds approximately EUR 140
million is to be allocated to the energy sector (2007 - 2013), mainly
to be used for increasing efficiency of district heating systems, for
development of cogeneration plants that use biomass and for the
development of wind farms.
According to the Directive 2009/28/EC of the European Parliament
and of the Council on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable
sources the target for the share of energy from renewable sources in
gross final consumption of energy in the year 2020 for Latvia is 40%
(in the year 2005 the share was 32.6%). The Directive has a mandatory
10 % target for transport to be achieved by all Member States, which
refers to renewable sources as a whole, not biofuels alone.
Renewable energy projections according to the National Renewable Energy Action Plan for Latvia
The
National Renewable Energy Action Plan (NREAP) for Latvia was submitted
in October 2010. The target according to Annex I of Directive
2009/28/EC is 40% for the year 2020 and the projected NREAP share in
that year exactly matches the target. According to the projection, the
most important contribution in the year 2020 is expected from biomass
(renewable heating and cooling) (1392 ktoe, 73% of all renewable
energy). Second important contribution is expected from hydropower (3.1
TWh or 262 ktoe, 14% of all renewable energy). The third largest
contribution is from biomass (renewable electricity) (1.2 TWh or 105
ktoe, 5% of all renewable energy). Wind power contributes with 0.4 GW
(0.9 TWh) in the year 2020 (onshore wind 0.2 GW and 0.5 TWh, offshore
wind 0.2 GW and 0.4 TWh). For solar photovoltaic the 2020 contribution
is projected to be 0.0 GW (0.0 TWh). For solar thermal the 2020
contribution is projected to be 2 ktoe. The two most important biofuels
are projected to contribute 28 ktoe (biodiesel) and 18 ktoe (bioethanol
/ bio-ETBE) by 2020. The renewable electricity production from solid
biomass amounts to 0.6 TWh (55 ktoe) and for biogas it is expected to
be 0.6 TWh (50 ktoe). The consumption of renewable heat is expected to
amount to 1343 ktoe for solid biomass and 49 ktoe for biogas.
Renewable Heating and
Cooling: solar thermal
In
Latvia no specific policy is in place for solar thermal. Two
demonstration projects on solar thermal were successfully implemented
in Aizkraukle: one project concerns a gymnasium school, the other
project concerns integration of solar thermal in a district heating
system.
Future programme changes
expected
No information on future policy.
Sources
Renewable energy factsheet Latvia,
http://ec.europa.eu/energy/energy_policy/facts_en.htm (sourced January 2008)
Ministry of Economy, http://www.em.gov.lv (sourced September 2008)
Interactive EurObserv’ER Database, http://www.eurobserv-er.org (status
2007)
The National Renewable Energy Action
Plans (NREAPs) are all published on the Transparency Platform on
Renewable Energy: http://ec.europa.eu/energy/renewables/transparency_platform/action_plan_en.htm
(sourced July - December 2010)
Renewable Energy Projections as Published in the National Renewable
Energy Action Plans of the European Member States, http://www.ecn.nl/nreap
(sourced December 2010)
Interactive EurObserv’ER Database
http://www.eurobserv-er.org
Last update: December 2010
This information can be referenced without permission provided that
thesource is mentioned completely and correctly: 'Interactive
EurObserv'ER
Database, http://www.eurobserv-er.org (date of last update)'
Suggestions for improvements to the policy description can be sent to
EurObserv'ER by e-mail: project@eurobserv-er.org
The EurObserv'ER barometer is a project supported by the European
Commission within the DG ENER 'Intelligent Energy Europe' programme and
by Ademe, the French Environment and Energy management Agency. The
EurObserv'ER Barometer is the result of the investigation and research
work of its authors. The European Commission is not responsible for any
use that may be made of the information contained therein.