Last week, for the first time, weekly production from renewables exceeded Lithuania’s electricity demand, largely driven by a surge in wind power. Electricity prices were at their lowest since June last year, and negative prices were also recorded.
Between 20 and 26 April, the average weekly wholesale electricity price decreased by 58 per cent from 86 euros/MWh to 36 euros/MWh in the Lithuanian price zone of the Nord Pool exchange. The price was the same in Latvia, while in Estonia it was 32 euros/MWh.
Negative electricity prices occurred on Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday. During the weekend, the electricity price reached zero or less for up to 20 per cent of the time.
Wind and solar power generation reached 206 GWh, which, together with other renewables, provided 215 GWh or 102 per cent of the 210 GWh demand. (Consumption was 4 per cent lower than the 219 GWh in the previous week.)
All power plants in the country provided 259 GWh or 124 per cent of the total demand. It was 43 per cent more electricity than the week before, when generation reached 181 GWh.
Wind power production grew by 78 per cent from 85 GWh to 151 GWh, accounting for 58 per cent of the electricity, while solar increased by 19 per cent from 47 GWh to 55 GWh, delivering 21 per cent. Hydropower plants produced 23 GWh (9 per cent), thermal power plants 18 GWh (7 per cent), and other power plants 12 GWh (5 per cent).
Imports decreased by 43 per cent from 100 GWh to 57 GWh, of which 69 per cent came from Latvia, 22 per cent from Sweden, and the remaining 9 per cent from Poland. Export flows from Lithuania doubled from 52 GWh to 103 GWh. 59 per cent went to Sweden, 21 per cent to Latvia, and the remaining 20 per cent to Poland. The country exported more electricity (61 GWh) to Sweden than it imported from it (12 GWh).
The capacity utilisation rate of the LitPol Link connection reached 71 per cent in the direction of Poland and 26 per cent in the direction of Lithuania. The NordBalt connection utilisation was 52 per cent towards Sweden and 11 per cent in the direction of Lithuania.