Lithuania

Country Profile

(.pdf file - 664 kB)

 

1. Overview

2. Policy and Incentives

 

3. Wind

4. Biomass

5. Solar

6. Geothermal

7. Hydroelectric

 

8. Links

9. References

10. Country Contacts

 

 

 

Lithuania has three factors that majorly affect its energy sector.  First, the country currently relies heavily on primary energy resources from Russia.  Second, Lithuania also does not have electrical interconnections with western European energy systems, and third, the country plans to totally decommission the Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant.  These three issues can play a great part in shaping the future of Lithuania’s energy sector (EREC, 2008).

Electricity generation is predominantly nuclear in Lithuania, with the balance made up from thermal, natural gas and fuel oil, CHP plants used for district heating. As Lithuania is predominantly flat-lands there are not considerable hydroelectric resources, however, this resource is utilized to about half of its potential of 1,600 MWe.

In 2007 around 70 percent of the total domestic electricity production was generated by the Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant.  The Ignalina plant consisted of two reactors, the first of which was decommissioned in 2004.  The second is planned for decommissioning at the end of 2009 (EREC, 2008). The decommissioning of the nuclear power plant Lithuania will present an opportunity for renewable energy use.  One of the strategic objectives in the Energy Strategy, 2002 is to strive for a share of renewable energy resources of up to 12 percent in the total primary energy balance by 2010.

There are also plans in place to expand hydroelectric generation and traditional thermal generation.  The transmission grid in Lithuania has deteriorated considerably since the fall of the Former Soviet Union, with estimated repairs in the range of $330 million. However, there are plans to begin the process of modernization and expansion of the existing grid.

Privatization of the Lithuanian Energy Company has proceeded gradually in a stepped manner over the course of the 1990’s.  In August of 1999 guidelines for restructuring the Lithuanian energy company were accepted by the government by which 51 percent of the company’s generating capacity and distribution would be sold. Bids were accepted in September of 2000; however, it is still unclear when the system will be fully privatized. In January of 2001 the Lithuanian Parliament passed a law on restructuring with a new plan to split the Lithuanian Energy Company into 5 separate companies.  Under this plan the generation, transmission, and distribution assets will be separate entities.  As of 2000 over 3,000 companies were waiting for privatization; many included large energy companies.  In 2002 a 34 percent stake was sold in the natural gas distributer, Lietuvos Dujos, to a German consortium.

The table below displays summary information about Lithuania.

Demographical Information
Population, millions (2009)	3.56
Land area, thousand sq km (2009)	65.3
Macroeconomic Information (2008)
GDP, billion US$	63.3
Real GDP growth rate, percent	3.20
Foreign direct investment (net), million US$ (2007)	1,334
Electricity disposition, billion kWh (2006)
Generation	11.91
Consumption	10.40
Exports	6.24
Imports	5.81
Generation capacity, GW (2005)
Nuclear	1.19
Thermal	2.47
Hydro	0.12
Other renewables	0.06
Total	3.83
Sources: CIA World Factbook, U.S. Energy Information Administration, United Nations Conference on Trade and Development.

Lithuania Country Summary Table

 

 

The pie chart below displays the proportions of renewable energy consumed in 2007.  Biomass makes up a majority of the consumed energy in Lithuania.

Renewable Energy Gross Consumption in 2007 (Source: EIA)

The map below shows the electricity transmission system in Lithuania.

 

Electricity Grid of Lithuania

 

(return to top)

Lithuania wrote their current National Energy Strategy in 2002.  One of the aims of the 2002 National Energy Strategy is to increase utilization of domestic energy resources and the use renewable energy sources by following EU guidelines to reduce the volume of fuel import as well as to create new jobs and to improve environmental standards. Specific measures to achieve this goal include:

·          creating and updating programs for the consumption of indigenous energy resources

·          encouragement of the extensive use of indigenous energy sources by organizational, economic and financial measures, support to enterprises and increased production and installation of equipment intended for the processing and use of the above-mentioned resources

·          implementation of projects for the use of wind, water and solar energy as well as for the consumption of other renewable and waste energy resources. The state will back the implementation of these projects and provide conditions for EU structural and other support funds to be used for achieving the above goals

·          provision of conditions for developing the production of biofuels. The existing legislation promoting production and use of the biofuels will be amended and revised on a regular basis

·          efforts directed to increasing share of renewables in the primary energy balance by 2010 to 12 percent and ensuring that the share is close to meeting the requirements of EU directives.  The proposal for the Directive on the promotion of renewable energy by the EU has set Lithuania’s renewable target at 23 percent by 2020 (Dzenajaviciene, 2008).

Since the implementation of the 2002 National Energy Policy, Lithuania has created many different support programs for renewable energy producers.   In 2008 Lithuania’s National Control Commission for Prices and Energy approved purchase prices of green electricity.  The tariffs are guaranteed until December 31, 2020.  Small hydro technology has a feed-in tariff of 7.8 Eurocents/kWh for 11 years of support.  Onshore and offshore wind as well as solid and gasification biomass technologies can receive 8.6 Eurocents/kWh for 11 years (EREC, 2009).

Renewable energy electricity producers are exempt from excise tax.  The excise duty provisions will enter into force on January 1, 2010.

Lithuania also supports renewable energy electricity producers by ensuring them grid priority for transmission and distribution.  The country also provides a discount on the fee of grid connection charged to power plants.  Renewable energy electricity producers can receive a 40 percent discount on the fee.

The country also supports the renewable energy heat producers.  District heating companies that are purchasing heat from independent heat producers and offer the same heat price have to purchase heat in the following order (EREC, 2009):

            1.  From combined heat and power plants using renewable energy sources.

            2.   Heat produced from renewable and geothermal energy sources.

            3.  Waste heat from industry.

            4.  Waste heat from CHP plants.

            5.  Waste heat from fossil fuel biomass boilers.

(return to top)

Lithuania has good wind resource in some areas of the country, primarily the western coastal region. Wind speeds are 5 –5.5 m/s at 10 m height in the coast zone. In the middle of Lithuania, wind speeds are 3.5 or 4 m/s. The Baltic Sea impact dictates the difference in wind regimes on the coastal line and in the inland regions. Wind resources suitable for power utilization are available more than on 10% of the territory in the western region of the country.

There is also potential for offshore wind power development in the region.  The most promising sites are Palanga, Klaipeda, Kurshskay Spit and the western region of inland territory.  An offshore windfarm is currently planned in Lithuania; the ship designed for the construction and maintenance of the farm has just been completed (Pavilenene, 2009).

There is currently 61 MW of wind capacity installed in Lithuania another 170 MW of wind capacity is planned (UDI, 2009).   Lithuania has a goal to install 200 MW of wind capacity by 2010.  After 2010, a new strategy for wind energy will be developed (Auglys, 2008).

 Lithuania Wind Resource Map (Source: 3Tier)

(return to top)

In Lithuania significant efforts have been aimed at developing biomass (wood, chips, wood waste, straw, biogas). The total capacity of installed wood-chip-fuelled boilers in Lithuania has reached over 250 MW.  No major obstacles can be seen for the extension of wood fuel usage.

Forests cover 21,300 square km or 32.5 percent of total land area of Lithuania.  It is estimated that 1.5 million tonnes of biomass could be extracted from forest resources.  The largest amount of potential for forest fuel resources is located in the southeastern portion of the country.  Up to 50 percent of the potential is from the utilization of logging residuals from different types of cuttings (Dzenajaviciene, 2008).

Wood fuel was used in Lithuania for space heating of individual houses, burning it in stoves with small efficiency until the middle of the 1990s.  In 1994 waste wood and specially prepared wood chips were burned for the first time in the district heating boilers with higher capacity (> 1 MW).  Every year new combustion wood boilers or re-powered existing boilers are commissioned.

The total potential of plant biomass for energy needs amounts to 36.4 PJ.  Approximately 50 percent of this potential would include plant biomass that is specifically grown for energy purposes.  Only about 24 percent of the potential for plant biomass is currently being exploited.  Around 26 PJ of plant biomass is used for fuel in rural areas, mainly agricultural operations and household heating (Dravininkas).

The use of straw fuel in Lithuania began in 1996.  The total installed capacity of straw-fired boilers makes up about 5 MW.  Approximately 7,500 t of straw is burned annually in these boilers, equivalent to 2.5 ktoe of primary energy.  The yield of straw constitutes about 3.5 - 4.0 million t every year.  Not all straw is collected.  Part of it is used as a fodder or bedding matter, part is used in gardening and part is left in the fields or lost.  It can be assumed that about 10-12 percent of total amount of straw or 400 thousand tonnes could be used as a fuel.  This amount of straw corresponds to about 134 ktoe.

It has been estimated that the technical potential of biogas production is equal to 530 million m³ per year.  This potential corresponds to 290 thousand toe of energy. The largest part of biogas resources consists of manure of domestic animals and poultry (94.3 percent). Wastewater of the largest cities of the country is at the second place (4.2 percent), while the organic wastes of food processing industry occupy the third one (1.5 percent).

 

 

Lithuania Biomass Resource Data

 

The following map displays the location of biomass plants throughout Lithuania.

 

Biomass plants - (67 projects, 251MW)

 

 

(return to top)

Lithuania is situated between latitudes 54° and 56° North.  Annual average radiation is approximately 1000 kWh/m².  The country's territory covers an area of 65,200 km². The area receives approximately 65,400 TWh of solar energy annually.

The use of solar energy is poorly developed in Lithuania. There are no incentives or projects in the field. Recently solar energy has been utilized for hot water supply, space heating of premises and drying of agricultural production. Small amounts of solar cells and autonomous electricity sources are produced as well. Preliminary estimations show that passive solar system could save about 15-20 percent of energy demand for space heating of buildings.

On the whole the climatic conditions are not favorable for using solar energy, and therefore the solar energy resource potential is small. It is characterized by the data presented in tables below for two points – Kaunas and Shilute. The first one is located in a central part of the country, and the second is located in the western part near Baltic coast.

	Kaunas	Shilute
Jan	62	51
Feb	122	107
Mar	283	261
Apr	401	363
May	568	543
Jun	626	617
Jul	579	568
Aug	484	454
Sep	317	287
Oct	154	144
Nov	54	54
Dec	40	35
Yearly	3690	3484

Monthly and annual total solar radiation incident on horizontal surface, MJ/m²

 

	Kaunas	Shilute
Jan	61	46
Feb	117	101
Mar	284	243
Apr	301	310
May	472	454
Jun	545	519
Jul	453	418
Aug	408	349
Sep	288	251
Oct	158	132
Nov	54	43
Dec	47	43
Yearly	3188	2909

 

Monthly and annual direct solar radiation incident on surface normal to sunlight beams, MJ/m²

 

The following maps display the direct normal insolation and global horizontal irradiation values for Lithuania.  As shown, Lithuania does not have significant solar resource.

 

Lithuania Solar Direct Normal Insolation (Source: NASA)

 

 

 

Lithuania Solar Global Horizontal Irradiance (Source: NASA)

(return to top)

6.  Geothermal

The geothermal areas cover 80 percent of Lithuania.  There are extensive geothermal energy resources in the West region of Lithuania. The Lithuanian geological institute evaluated the geothermal resources and established the feasible potential of geothermal energy at 0.8 TWh/year.  Development of geothermal energy is included in the National Energy Strategy and in National Energy Efficiency Program.

The most prospective geothermal reservoirs are discovered in Devonian and Cambrian high permeable sandstones at the depths up to 2,100 m in the western part of Lithuania. The local and regional evaluations of extracted heat with full reinjection of waste brine were fulfilled, but the overall possible thermal power was not determined.  High potential geothermal resources for electricity production are absent.  The map below displays the geothermal gradient of Lithuania.

Geothermal Gradient (°C / 100 m)

Lithuania started using geothermal energy in 2000 with the first geothermal demonstration in the country at Klaipeda on the Baltic Sea coast.  There, absorption heat pumps extracted water at 38 °C producing 215,000 MWh of energy.  Currently, many studies are being carried out in several cities and towns in western Lithuania.  Since 1996, over 200 residential geothermal heat pumps have been installed.  The total installed capacity is 21.3 MWt producing 458 TJ per year. 

(return to top)

7.  Hydroelectric

Hydroelectric generation accounts for a small portion (less than 5 percent) of Lithuania’s electricity supply.  Lithuania is mostly a lowlands country, and as such does not have huge amounts of hydroelectric power potential.  The main river system in the country is the Nemunas River, which flows north from Belarus through Lithuania into the Baltic Sea, forming part of the border between Lithuania and the Kaliningrad region of Russia. A map of Lithuania's rivers is shown below. 

The technical potential of hydro resources is estimated to be as large as 1.5 TWh per year.  A majority of the resource is on the larger Lithuanian rivers, Nemunas and Neris, and the remaining is located on small to medium rivers (470 total rivers).

Small hydro plants (with a capacity of less than 10 MW) are commercial and profitable.  Lithuania has a total hydroelectric capacity of 906 MW; a majority of the capacity of is from the Kruonis power plant with 800 MW.  Krunonis was installed in the late 1990s.  Approximately 800 MW is planned (UDI, 2009).

The rivers of Lithuania can be seen in the map below.

Lithuanian Rivers

(return to top)

8.  Relevant Links

(return to top)

Auglys, V., “Development of Wind Energy in Lithuania,” Ministry of Environment of Lithuania, June 2008.

 

Bondareva, L., Biomass usage opportunities in Lithuanian energy sector, 2003

 

Dravininkas, A., “The Use of Plant Biomass and Its Waste Products for Energy Purposes in Lithuania,” Institute of Agricultural Engineering, Lithuanian University of Agriculture. 

 

European Renewable Energy Council and Lithuania Energy Institute, Renewable Energy Policy review Latvia, 2004.

 

Intelligent Energy Europe, “Renewable Energy Policy Review: Lithuania,” EREC, March 2009.  Available online: www.erec.org.

 

Lund, J., Freeston, D., and Boyd, T., “World-Wide Direct Uses of Geothermal Energy 2005,” published in Proceedings of the World Geothermal Congress 2005, Turkey, 24-29 April 2005.

 

Mockevičius,J., Geological Survey of Lithuania, and Vita Rastenienė, Institute of Geology and Geograph, GEOTHERMAL ENERGY IN LITHUANIA: POSSIBILITIES AND FACTS, April 2005.

 

P.Suveizdis et al. Geothermal Potential of Lithuania and Outlook for its Utilization. Proceedings World Geothermal Congress 2000, Tokyo, 2000.

 

Pavilenene, D., “Western Shipyard Celebrates the Ship WINDLIFT1 Name in Lithuania - Giving Ceremony,” The Baltic Course, June 2009.

 

UDI, “World Electric Power Plants Database,” June 2009.

 

Vrublyauskas ,S. and Kruzhinskas V., “Possibilities of utilization of renewable energy sources as means for greenhouse gas mitigation in Lithuania”. Proceedings of II International Conference “Reduction of methane emission”, Novosibirsk, 2000.

(return to top)

Contacts made in the preparation of this assessment are gratefully thanked for their contribution to this report.  Contacts include: