Overview of the production, consumption, import and export of energy and electricity in Lithuania
Lithuania has been significantly expanding its solar parks, growing from zero in early 2000s to 814 MW capacity in 2022.Elektrėnai Power Plant, with the capacity of 1055 MW, is the most powerful generating station in Lithuania
Lithuania is a net energy importer. In 2019 Lithuania used around 11.4 TWh of electricity after producing just 3.6 TWh.[1]
Systematic diversification of energy imports and resources is Lithuania's key energy strategy.[2]
Long-term aims were defined in the National Energy Independence strategy in 2012 by Lietuvos Seimas.[3]
It was estimated that strategic energy independence initiatives will cost €6.3–7.8 billion in total and provide annual savings of €0.9-1.1 billion.
In light of the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine and Russia's weaponization of energy supplies, Lithuania was among the best equipped countries in Central and Eastern Europe to deal with the energy crisis. This is because ever since the reestablishment of its independence, Lithuania has been investing in alternative energy import routes. These included the development of the Būtingė oil terminal, the electricity interconnections NordBalt and LitPol Link, the Klaipėda LNG terminal and the Gas Interconnection Poland–Lithuania. All of these infrastructure projects allowed Lithuania to quickly cut its reliance on Russian energy supplies.[4] It was on 22 May 2022 that Lithuania confirmed it had ceased buying gas, oil and electricity from Russia.[5]
Lithuania has set a target to generate 70% of electricity from renewable sources by 2030, increasing to 100% by 2045.[6]
In order to break down Gazprom's monopoly[8][9] in the natural gas market of Lithuania, Klaipėda LNG FSRU, the first large scale LNG import terminal in the Baltic region, was built in port of Klaipėda in 2014.
Equinor will be supplying 540 million cubic meters of natural gas annually from 2015 until 2020.[10]
The terminal is able to meet all of Lithuania's demand, and 90% of Latvia's and Estonia's national demand in the future.[11]
Gas Interconnection Poland–Lithuania (GIPL), also known as the Lithuania–Poland pipeline, a natural gas pipeline interconnection between Lithuania and Poland was completed and became operational on 1 May 2022. The capacity is 1.9 billion cubic metres per year. EUR 266.3 million co-financing was received from the EU Budget. [12]
AB Amber Grid, the Lithuanian gas transmission system operator, is responsible for the safe and reliable transmission of natural gas through high-pressure pipelines. [14]
Renewable energy includes wind, solar, biomass and geothermal energy sources.
In 2016, renewable energy constituted 27.9% of the country's overall electricity generation.[15][16] Previously, the Lithuanian government aimed to generate 23% of total power from renewable resources by 2020. This goal was achieved in 2014, with 23.9% of power being from renewable sources.
With installed wind capacity of 178 MW in 2016, and an average power consumption of 1.1 GW, Lithuania was the EU Member State with the highest level of new wind capacity installed in 2016 relative to its power consumption.[18] By 2022, wind power capacity was 814 MW
Studies suggest that Lithuania has the largest offshore wind potential out the three Baltic States. It is estimated that Lithuania could have up to 3.6 GW of offshore windfarms by 2050.[19]
As of 2022 Lithuania had capacity of 568 MW of solar power.[20] Lithuania has also changed the law to make it easier from a planning and environmental aspect to install solar farms.[21]
Biomass provides over 10% of Lithuania's power capacity.
Green Hydrogen
Lithuania has allocated €50m to create a green hydrogen system of 65 megawatts (MW) with an annual volume of more than 8,000 tons, to be completed by 2027.[22]
Ignalina's last plant closed in 2009[23] in line with the commitments made when Lithuania joined EU in 2004.
A new nuclear power plant in Visaginas has been proposed but the status of the project is uncertain after it was rejected by the voters in a referendum in 2012.[24]
Electricity
Lithuania imports 70% of its electrical power, since 2022, mostly from Sweden, and the average price of electricity is among the highest in the EU.[25][26][27] In 2015, transmission lines connected Lithuania to Sweden (700MW) and Poland (500MW). Construction of 200 MW / 200 MWh grid batteries started in 2022, to increase grid stability.[28]
By 2025 Lithuania is set to leave the Russian-led BRELL synchronous electricity transmission grid and synchronize with Continental Europe.[30][31] An interconnector linking the Lithuania with Poland is to be built, called the Harmony Link Interconnector, 330km undersea high voltage DC current landing at Darbėnai.[32]
