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Latvia

 

Country Profile

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Latest Developments

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Projects

 

 

 

 Latvia's accession to the EU has been a direct result of its friendly investment climate and economic success.  Latvia passed a Law on Energy in 1998 that requires utilities to purchase power from renewable energy providers at set prices.  In 2003 a new tariff system was created which sets different prices among resources.  This and other laws pertaining to cogeneration and solid waste disposal have been passed to enable Latvia’s accession to the EU. 

 

The wind energy potential of Latvia is extremely good with over 500 MW being technically feasible, mostly on the coastal regions of the Baltic Sea.  Over 20 MW of wind energy capacity is already installed.   Hydropower is already prevalent, accounting for 74 percent of total generating capacity; however, new small hydro projects are limited.  Biomass projects are attractive due to limited reserves of fossil fuel, and considerable wood and agricultural wastes.  The primary barrier to biomass projects is the high capital cost. 

 

Renewable energy projects are attractive in Latvia due to already existing high electricity rates and strong legislative incentives.

 

 

Country Profile and Notes

 

More information is provided in the country profile notes, including specific resource and energy sector information:

 

View 2005 Country Profile

View 2002 Country Notes (318 kB pdf)

 

 

Latest Developments


TitleSummarypubDate
Report From Biofuel Conference Held in Bulgaria
In the second of a series of workshops for biofuel end-users, the Biofuel Cities European Partnership brought together 35 stakeholders from Central and Eastern Europe in Sofia, Bulgaria in December 2007. On the agenda was a discussion of  biofuels for transport and a reflection on the challenges facing biofuel end-users in the region, such as overly bureaucratic procedures, lack of institutional support and security of feedstock supply.
27-Dec-07
Program Encourages Renewable Energy and Entrepreneurship
The European Commission's Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme (CIP) was presented Wednesday in Skopje.
Macedonian Economy Minister Vera Rafajlovska and the EU Ambassador Erwan Fouere made introductory address at today's presentation of the CIP. The programme will run from 2007 to 2013.
19-Dec-07
Eesti Energia To Establish New Wind Park in the Baltic States
Dutch utility Eesti Energia has announced that it has acquired the Aulepa wind park development with the aim of building the largest wind park in the Baltic States. The move is part of its long-term strategy of decreasing carbon dioxide emissions.  
14-Nov-07
Baltic Sea Wind Power Plant Planned
Energy Concern BOT to Build PLN 5 bln Wind Power Plant on Baltic Sea
09-Sep-07
Turbine for Latvian Wind Project Ordered
IRVINE, Calif., July 5 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Composite Technology Corporation (CTC) announced today that its DeWind subsidiary has received an order from Sia Lenkas Energo, for one 2MW DeWind D8 wind turbine for delivery to one of their projects in Latvia. The turbine is scheduled for delivery in mid 2008. DeWind has received an initial down payment and bank guarantees for this order. The turbine will be erected in Liepaja, Latvia in a Wind Zone II location and utilize a standard 80 meter rotor and 80 meter tower.
05-Jul-07
Latvia Hydro Spillway Construction Tender
The Republic of Latvia's Latvenergo company has invited tenders for the design and construction of the reserve spillway at Plavinas hydro power plant.
 
22-Jun-07
Biomass Co-firing in Europe - Conference
On behalf of the Integrated European Network for Biomass Co-firing (NETBIOCOF), you are invited to join us at the International Conference in Biomass Co-firing in Europe. This event will be held on July 2-4, 2007 in Budapest, Hungary.
 
28-Mar-07
Energy Crops Encouraged With Payments
The EU Commission has adopted an EU Strategy for Biofuels. The decision will give farmers in Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Poland, Romania and Slovakia the chance to receive €45 per hectare for growing energy crops.
22-Dec-06
EU Plans to Extend Energy Crop Subsidies to Accession States
Under the proposals, farmers who grow energy crops for use in bioenergy in the Czech Republic, Estonia, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia would be able to access EU funding of €45 ($57) a hectare from 2007
28-Sep-06
EU to Extend Energy Crop Aid Scheme
The European Commission proposed on Friday expanding subsidies for biofuel crops to encourage the production of renewable energy.
22-Sep-06
Eastern Europe Gets German Biofuel Investments
EOP Biodiesel has announced several international projects in the past year, including Romania, Bulgaria, Ukraine and Latvia.
18-Sep-06
Two New Bio-Oil Plants Planned for Latvia and UkraineRika Ltd. has received a master license from DynaMotive Energy Systems to market its technology in Latvia and Ukraine, where Rika Ltd. has extensive operations.
31-Jan-06
Wind Power Projects Promising in LatviaWhen it comes to finding the remaining 5 percent of their pledge for 49% of generation from renewables, wind power appears as a favorable resource.
24-Aug-05
Wind energy in the BSR - Planning, Construction and Investment
The Baltic Sea Region wind energy group is focussed on the further development and extension of wind energy usage as well as on the promotion of the wind energy idea within the entire Baltic Sea Region.
01-Jul-05
Wind Energy in the Baltic Sea Region, 2005
The conference will be arranged to stimulate dialogue and discussion that can result in new ideas and projects. It will start with a common session, followed by seminars with some 25 participants each. The second day will be a study tour, also in groups of reasonable size, and on the third day there will be several different workshops (not more than 12 participants), followed by a common session for conclusions.
01-Jul-05

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 Projects
Project TitleTechnologyCapacity MWStatusSponsor
Liepaja, Latvia Wind Zone IIWind2
construction
Plavinas (Latvia) hydro spillwayHydroelectric
planned
DynaMotive BioOilBiofuels200 tons per day oil
Planned
Rika
Struzani PeatBiomass2.5
Operating
AivieksteHydroelectric1.215
Operating
AngiriuHydroelectric1.24
Operating
AnneniekuHydroelectric0.045
Operating
BraslaHydroelectric0.4
Operating
BrenguliHydroelectric0.13
Operating
BrutuliHydroelectric0.05
Operating
JoudkiskiuHydroelectric0.415
Operating
KegumsHydroelectric260
Operating
PakuleHydroelectric0.4
Operating
PakuluHydroelectric0.36
Operating
PlavinasHydroelectric850
Operating

(Items 1 to 15)Next

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