Facts

Latvenergo Group is the leading producer of electricity and thermal energy in Latvia.

Latvenergo Group has a balanced and environmentally friendly energy generation portfolio, consisting mostly of hydropower plants and highly efficient combined heat and power plants.

Most of the electricity and thermal energy is generated by the three Daugava hydropower plants (HPPs) and two combined heat and power plants (CHPPs) of Latvenergo AS. Energy is also generated by Liepājas enerģija SIA, Aiviekste HPP and Ainazi Wind Power Plant (WPP).

Latvenergo Group is one of the most environmentally friendly electricity producers in the European Union

Installed electrical capacity at the Group's generation facilities

Energy generated at Latvenergo Group

Share of energy resources in the electricity output

Daugava hydropower plants

The Daugava HPPs are the biggest hydropower plants in the country, providing a large share of renewable energy not only in the Group, but also in Latvia as a whole.

In 2022, the electricity output at the Daugava HPPs did not significantly change: 2.7 TWh of electricity were generated, which constituted 70% of the Group’s total electricity output.

Installed electrical capacity

1,558 MW

Electricity output

2,670 GWh

In 2022, investments in the Daugava HPPs’ assets amounted to EUR 12 million, including EUR 4.2 million invested in the programme for the reconstruction of hydropower units, which will ensure their operation for more than 40 years. The programme provides for the reconstruction of 11 hydropower units that have not been reconstructed yet, of which eight were commissioned by the end of 2022. The total cost of the programme is expected to be around EUR 260 million. Investments of EUR 200 million were already made by the end of 2022.

Replacement of outdated hydro turbines contributes to an increase in the Daugava HPPs’ capacity, efficiency rate and a decrease in water consumption per 1 kWh. This promotes reliable, efficient and competitive operations of the Daugava HPPs within the overall energy system and in the electricity market. More efficient use of water resources mitigates the negative impact of the Group on climate change. In 2022, each megawatt hour of electricity generated by the Daugava HPPs reduced CO2 emissions by 0.366 tonnes, assuming that this energy would otherwise be generated in condensation mode at combined heat and power plants by using natural gas as fuel.

Investments in the Daugava HPPs


The ability of the Daugava HPPs to generate electricity depends on the water inflow in the Daugava River. During the flooding season, it is possible to cover the demand for electricity of all Latvenergo Group’s customers and trade the excess on the Nord Pool exchange. Outside the season, the Daugava HPPs provide for the possibility to accumulate water and adapt generation of electricity when the demand and prices on the exchange are higher.

Plavinas HPP

Start of operations - 1965
Capacity - 908 MW
Hydropower units - 10
Energy source - water

Plavinas HPP is the largest hydropower plant by installed capacity in the Baltic states and one of the largest in the European Union. It plays an important role in ensuring the stability of the Baltic power system in the event of unplanned outages or accidents at base plants. Plavinas HPP also serves as a synchronous compensator for voltage regulation in high voltage electricity networks.

Riga HPP

Start of operations - 1974
Capacity - 402 MW
Hydropower units - 6
Energy source - water

Riga HPP is the newest of the Daugava hydropower plants. It also serves as a synchronous compensator for voltage regulation in high voltage electricity networks. The reconstruction of the Riga HPP was completed in 2022.

Kegums HPP

Start of operations - 1939
Capacity - 248 MW
Hydropower units - 7
Energy source - water

Kegums HPP is the oldest Daugava hydropower plant. It consists of two separate power plants built at different times on the right and left banks of the Daugava River.

The combined heat and power plants of Latvenergo AS


High prices for natural gas and emission allowances led to a drop in CHPP electricity production of around 40% in 2022. The CHPPs produced 1.1 TWh of electricity, which accounts for 29% of the total electricity production of the Group. The amount of thermal energy generated by the CHPPs was 1.5 TWh, a 15% decrease compared to the previous year. The decrease is mainly due to warmer weather in the 2022 heating season. The heat produced is sold at regulated tariffs to Rīgas siltums AS, as well as to the local external heat users of CHPP-2.

 

Electricity output at CHPPs

1,123  GWh

Thermal energy output at CHPPs

1,531 GWh


The upgraded CHPPs of Latvenergo AS are mostly operated in the highly efficient cogeneration mode in accordance with the thermal energy demand, which in turn depends on weather conditions, the duration of the heating season and competition in the thermal energy market. The operation of these plants can be flexibly adjusted to the electricity market conditions and guarantees a significant baseload electricity capacity for Latvia. Both CHPPs can cover Latvian electricity consumption almost completely in circumstances where, due to certain factors, electricity imports from foreign countries are limited. In response to the energy crisis, the CHPPs also used diesel as an alternative fuel to natural gas for thermal energy generation in 2022; 11% of the CHPPs’ thermal energy output was produced with diesel.

In March 2021, the CHPP-2 heat storage system was commissioned; it is the largest project of its kind in the Baltics. The 17,800 m3 heat storage tank enables accumulation of thermal energy generated in cogeneration mode and optimises the adjustment of the CHPP operating modes to changing market conditions and to cover peak loads. In 2022, the system achieved primary energy savings of more than 300 MWh and CO2 savings of almost 1,100 tonnes. In addition, it increases the security of the heat supply of the Riga district heating system on the right bank of the Daugava.



Creation of a heat storage system at CHPP-2 generating facility

The construction of a heat storage unit in the territory of CHPP-2 of Latvenergo AS has completed becoming the largest and the only heat storage unit in the Baltic countries with the volume of heat


carrier of 18 thousand m 3. An extensive and modern solution will ensure more efficient use of heating fuel in the country, reduce consumption of energy sources and increase competitiveness of CHPPs.

CHPP-1

Start of operations - 1955
Electrical capacity - 158 MW
Thermal capacity - 493 MW
Energy source - natural gas

In 2005, a completely new plant was commissioned in the territory of the CHPP-1 and the old plant was closed down. Two gas turbines, one steam turbine and three water boilers are operated at the CHPP-1.

CHPP-2

Start of operations - 1973
Electrical capacity - 832 MW (in cogeneration mode), 881 MW (in condensation mode)
Thermal capacity - 1,124 MW
Energy source - natural gas

Reconstruction of two power units was carried out from 2006 to 2013. Currently, CHPP-2 is the most efficient and advanced combined-cycle power plant in the Baltics. Two combined-cycle gas turbine units and five water boilers are operated at the plant. In 2021, the largest heat storage system in the Baltics was commissioned at CHPP-2.

Small Plants

Liepaja plants

Founded - 2005
Electrical capacity - 6 MW
Thermal capacity - 176 MW
Energy source - natural gas, woodchips

Latvenergo AS holds a 51% share in Liepājas enerģija SIA. The company ensures the generation, transmission, distribution, and trade of thermal energy in the city of Liepaja as well as the generation of electricity in cogeneration mode. The primary fuel for energy generation is woodchips, which account for 82% of the fuel balance of 2022. In 2022, the Liepaja plants generated 247 GWh of thermal energy and 22 GWh of electricity. Contracts have been concluded for the connection of 31 new objects to the district heating networks with a total planned capacity of 6.7 MW. To attract new customers in South Kurzeme, the company has expanded its range of services to include the installation and maintenance of individual heating units. In 2022, 18 contracts for the installation of heating units and 33 contracts for the servicing of 96 heating units were concluded. In October 2022, a contract was signed with the Central Financing and Contracting Department (CFCD) for the implementation of the project “Replacement of fossil fuels in Liepāja”. Within the project, 3.78 MW gas boilers will be replaced by 4 MW woodchip boilers, which will reduce CO2 emissions by around 2,700 tonnes per year. The project is to be implemented within 14 months of the conclusion of the contract.

Ainazi WPP

Start of operations - 1995
Electrical capacity - 1 MW
Energy source - wind

In 2013, full renovation of both generators was completed. In 2022, 0.9 GWh of electricity were generated at Ainazi WPP.

Aiviekste HPP

Fully renovated - 2021
Electrical capacity - 1,5 MW
Energy source - water

Aiviekste HPP started generating electricity back in 1925. Until 1939, when Kegums HPP was built, Aiviekste HPP was the largest hydroelectric power plant in Latvia. In 1967, Aiviekste HPP ceased operations and two years later its equipment was dismantled. In 1994, the renovated Aiviekstes HPP with a capacity of 0.8 MW started working. The reconstruction of the hydropower plant was completed in 2021, and the plant’s capacity increased from 0.8 MW to 1.5 MW. The connection of Aiviekste HPP to the electricity network was also rebuilt. In 2022, 5.9 GWh of electricity were generated at Aiviekste HPP.