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 2023, due to the significantly higher water inflow, the Daugava HPPs generated the second largest electricity output in the last 25 years: 3.7 TWh of electricity were generated, which constituted 73% of the Group’s total electricity output.

Installed electrical capacity

1,558 MW

Electricity output

2,670 GWh

In 2023, investments in the Daugava HPPs’ assets amounted to EUR 17.4 million, including EUR 8.2 million invested in the programme for the reconstruction of hydropower units, which will ensure their operation for more than 40 years. By the end of 2023, eight hydropower units have been commissioned, and activities for reconstruction of the remaining three hydropower units were carried out.

Replacement of outdated hydro turbines contributes to an increase in the Daugava HPPs’ capacity, efficiency rate and a decrease in water consumption per 1 kWh.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 2023, each megawatt hour of electricity generated by the Daugava HPPs reduced CO2 emissions by 0.379 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


In 2023, the CHPP electricity generation increased by 23%: the electricity output at these plants was 1.4 TWh which constitutes 27% of the Group’s total electricity output. The increase was due to the relatively low output in 2022 that was characterized by high prices on natural gas. The amount of thermal energy generated by the CHPPs was 1.5 TWh, which is almost equal to the amount generated in the previous year. 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.



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 - 180 MW
Energy source - woodchips, natural gas

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 87% of the fuel balance of 2023. In 2023, the Liepaja plants generated 241 GWh of thermal energy and 16 GWh of electricity. Contracts have been concluded for the connection of 18 new objects to the district heating networks with a total planned capacity of 6.2 MW. 46 new contracts for the servicing of 48 heating units were concluded, five heating units were installed, and nine contracts for the delivery and installation of individual heating units were concluded. At the end of the year the total number of sites was around 1.2 thousand, with a total capacity of around 300 MW. The company’s newest woodchip boiler house with a capacity of 4 MW was launched in October 2023. It provides heating to 15 apartment buildings, Liepāja Regional Hospital, and one commercial site.

Ainazi WPP

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

In 2023, 0.9 GWh of electricity were generated at Ainazi WPP. A decision was taken to renovate the plant in 2024.

Aiviekste HPP

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

Aiviekste HPP was the first hydropower plant in Latvia; it started generating electricity back in 1925. The reconstruction of the hydropower plant was completed in 2022, 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 2023, 4.2 GWh of electricity were generated at Aiviekste HPP.