Renewable energy production up 30% on year in Latvia

Central Statistical Bureau data published on September 6 show that 6 388 GWh of electricity were generated in Latvia in 2023 (27.0 % more than in 2022), of which 4 963 GWh from renewable energy resources (renewables).
The amount of electricity produced from renewables has gone up by 30.0 % (1 146 GWh) compared to 2022. Wind power and solar power plants generated 92.5 % more electricity.

Driven by the active installation of solar panels and the development of solar parks, the amount of electricity generated by solar power plants increased significantly, reaching 239 GWh in 2023. This is more than three times, or 164 GWh, the amount generated in 2022. Wind power plants generated 271 GWh of electricity (42.6 % or 81 GWh more than in 2022). However, due to high water inflow and a prolonged flood season, hydropower plants generated 3 794 GWh of electricity (38.0 % or 1 044 GWh more).

Combined heat and power (CHP) plants generated 2 083 GWh of electricity (8.2 percentage points more than in 2022), of which 31.6 % from renewables (in biogas and biomass CHP plants). Compared to the year before, the amount of electricity generated by biogas CHP plants fell from 250 GWh to 182 GWh (a decline of 27.2 %) and of that generated by biomass power plants and CHP plants from 552 GWh to 477 GWh (a decline of 13.6 %)

than in 2022. Over the five years from 2019 to 2023 it has grown by 9.8 % (7.4 PJ).

Gross consumption of fuelwood increased by 1.8 % (1.1 PJ) over the five years and reached 63.0 PJ in 2023. However, over the year fuelwood consumption reduced by 1.6 % (1.0 PJ).  

In 2023, fuelwood took up 76.2 % of the gross consumption of renewables (80.0 % in 2022), electricity 18.8 %, biofuel 0.7 % (down by 0.3 percentage points compared to 2022), while biogas and other energy 2.2 % and 2.1 %, respectively.

As the gross consumption of renewables is increasing, Latvia is getting closer to the strategic goal of the renewable energy sector – reaching 50.0 % of renewable energy in gross final energy consumption until 2030. In terms of the highest share of renewables in the final energy consumption, Latvia ranks third in the EU (in 2022 Latvia had 43.3 % and EU average was 23.0 %).

Source: Central Statistical Bureau (www.stat.gov.lv)