In the next decade, a generating capacity deficit is expected in Latvia and in the all Baltic countries as well, while the role of small, decentralized generation and active consumers will increase, and interconnections, reinforcements of the transmission network and closer integration of the Baltic power systems in the European electricity market will play an increasing role in covering the demand for electricity. Such conclusions came from annual statement prepared by Latvian electricity transmission system operator “AS Augstsprieguma tīkls”.

“Similarly as in Nordic countries and Estonia, in Latvia also is necessary to introduce a national electricity data exchange platform in order to promote the digitization of the power system and ensure the involvement of decentralized generation and active consumers in balancing of energy systems and provision of reserves” – statements conclusions are clarified by Varis Boks, Chairman of Augstsprieguma tīkls AS Management Board.

Nearly half of the large generation capacity of thermal power plants generally in Lithuania and Estonia will be closed in the Baltic States, and in order not to reduce the security of electricity supply in Latvia in the next ten years it is important to ensure that the generation capacity of Latvia is not diminished.

Is expected, that conventional generating capacities will decrease in the coming years, but the role of small, decentralized generation and active consumers will increase. In Latvia and Baltic States is necessary to stimulate the elasticity of electricity demand in order to ensure balancing resources in the power system to ensure continuous balance between supply and demand of electrical energy.

The TSO annual statement is an important document for the development of the Latvian electricity system, since it puts forward and addresses several possible generation scenarios, analyzes consumption and peak load, evaluates the electricity balance for a ten year period, and informs about available capacities to cover the daily load in the near future.

Based on this report as well as ten year development plan of transmission system of Latvia developed by AS "Augstsprieguma tīkls", ten year network development plan of the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity (ENTSO-E), which in turn is one of the founding documents on the basis of which the Member States, the European Union is able to co-finance the development projects of electricity system and market integration.

The full text of the TSO annual assessment can be found here.