LATVIA

In Latvia, heating is provided through district heating systems, local heat supply and individual heat supply. Heat energy is produced in boiler houses and co-generation stations (CHP plants). Over the past 10 years, the distribution of heat produced in boiler houses and co-generation stations has changed significantly. According to figures from the Ministry of Economics of Latvia, the share of thermal energy produced in co-generation stations in 2015 reached 74.5%.

The main consumers of heat energy are households. In 2015, 5862 GWh of thermal energy were consumed (households 3917 GWh, commercial and public sectors 1453 GWh, industry and construction 403 GWh, agriculture 89 GWh).

Fuel-wood and natural gas are fuels which are mainly used in the production of heat energy from boiler houses. It is essential that the share of local and renewable energy (fuel-wood) increases each year, reducing the proportion of natural gas.

Natural gas is used as the main fuel for electricity and heat production in CHP plants. The number of biomass heat sources has increased 2.5 times, and the installed capacity has tripled in 2014 compared to 2007. The total installed chip boiler power tripled to 819 MW.

In 2017 there were 615 boiler houses in Latvia, of which 333 were using biomass as fuel. In 2017, 50 co-generation stations were operating in Latvia, in which biomass (chips and wood) was used. In total there are 204 co-generation stations.

KeepWarm resources

KeepWarm Showroom of replicable and bankable DHS pilot projects

The purpose of this Service Pitch Book is to relay the availability of replicable, bankable examples of DH-retrofits for both energy efficiency (EE) and integrating more sustainable energy sources (i.e. RES and/or excess heat, ExH), as well as providing information about national contexts, especially useful to audiences outside a particular country. It highlights the pilot DHSs which have been actively participating in KeepWarm’s activities, giving them visibility as well as stimulating networking opportunities to reach out to them directly for improving DH even further.

This Showroom has been translated into the languages of KeepWarm project partners. Please find here the Latvian version.

KeepWarm Guidance Document

This guidance document has been created as a means of helping you navigate some of the key issues involved in upgrading your district heating (DH) by using more sustainable energy sources, namely from a variety of viable renewable energy sources and/or excess heat harvestable from industrial/commercial processes. Integrating and fully-switching to these greener DH alternatives makes sense not only at an operational level, but is greatly supportive, if not essential, for the successful implementation of a variety of Europe’s flagship policy initiatives.

This Guidance Document has been translated into the languages of KeepWarm project partners. Please findhere the Latvianversion.

Improving the performance of DHS - example from Latvia: "Salaspils Siltums", Ltd.:

Improving the performance of DHS - example from Latvia: "Jekabpils Siltums", Ltd.:

Improving the performance of DHS - example from Latvia: "Auces komunalie pakalpojumi", Ltd.:

Capacity Building

The tailor made Capacity Building programme for Latvia covers training topics identified by Latvian DHS operators and staff during the needs assessment phase. The highest priorities have been given to RES and EE topics including waste to energy aspects as well as to technical topics and organisational topics. Top priority topics has also been identified in financial and management topics. The trainings have been evaluated through anonymous questionnaires by the trainees.

Replicable DHS demo cases

Inspire Events

KeepWarm Inspire Event #4 in Latvia 30 June 2020: Challenges and opportunities for DHS modernisation in Latvia 1. Agenda

KeepWarm Inspire Event #4 in Latvia 30 June 2020
4. Valdis Rieksts Riekstins, Fortum Jelgava

KeepWarm Inspire Event #4 in Latvia 30 June 2020
2. General situation of DHS, Ina Berzina Veita LSUA

KeepWarm Inspire Event #4 in Latvia 30 June 2020
3. Approach in Latvia, Signe Martinkrista ZREA

KeepWarm Inspire Event #4 in Latvia 30 June 2020: Challenges and opportunities for DHS modernisation in Latvia

5. Ilze Polikarpova, Salaspils Siltums

KeepWarm Inspire Event #4 in Latvia 30 June 2020: Challenges and opportunities for DHS modernisation in Latvia

6. Ieva Pakere, RTU

News archive

Country project partner

The Zemgale Regional Energy Agency (ZREA) is an NGO facilitating the improvement of energy efficiency in the public and private sector and providing information on the issue for residents. It was initiated by several municipalities, a district heating and a housing maintenance company, as well as the regional innovation and NGO support centre. ZREA has the responsibility for promoting the project on social media and the implementation of DHS pilot projects in Latvia.