Changeable weather increased electricity consumption, a record for solar production was achieved over the weekend | Business

On April 22-28, the average wholesale weekly price of electricity in the Lithuanian price zone of the “Nord Pool” exchange grew by 6 percent compared to the previous week. from 78 Eur/MWh to 83 Eur/MWh. In Latvia and Estonia, the average wholesale electricity price was the same as in Lithuania.

“In the first half of last week, when the cold prevailed in Lithuania, the increased heating demand led to a rapid increase in electricity consumption. Due to the growing demand for electricity, its average price from Monday to Thursday was around 100 EUR/MWh. However, the sunny weather that has prevailed since Friday led not only to reduced demand for electricity, but also to a new instant record for the production of solar power plants.

“Litgrid” photo/Electricity price

Solar power plants produced the most at 12 noon on Sunday. – their generation reached 774 MW. The price of electricity on the “NordPool” exchange fluctuated between 0.21 – 0.28 EUR/MWh on Sunday from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., says Aistė Krasauskienė, head of the Litgrid Market Development Department.

Electricity consumption in Lithuania grew by 4 percent last week. from 225 GWh to 234 GWh. In Lithuania, local power plants provided 61 percent. of the country’s electricity consumption*. In total, 143 GWh of electricity was produced in Lithuania last week, which is 14 percent. more than a week ago, when domestic production reached 125 GWh.

Litgrid photo/Generation distribution

In Lithuania last week, wind farms produced the most electricity. Their production grew by 47 percent. from 39 GWh to 57 GWh. The production of solar power plants grew slightly – from 29 GWh to 30 GWh. Hydropower generation also remained at a similar level, increasing from 19 GWh to 20 GWh. And thermal power plants connected to the transmission network generated 13 percent. less than a week ago, their production fell from 24 GWh to 21 GWh.

Other power plants produced 15 GWh. Last week, wind farms produced 40 percent. Of the electricity generated in Lithuania, solar power plants account for 21 percent, hydroelectric power plants – 14 percent, thermal power plants – 15 percent, and other power plants – 11 percent.

According to the import/export (sweet) ratio, 44 ​​percent. of the country’s electricity demand* was imported. Compared to the previous week, the total amount of imports grew by 2 percent. from 137 GWh to 140 GWh. When differentiating the country’s imports, 61 percent were imported from Scandinavia through the NordBalt connection, 18 percent. from Latvia, and the remaining 21 percent electricity entered the country through the border with Poland.

The total flow of electricity from Lithuania increased by 57 percent. from 22 GWh to 35 GWh. 5 percent of exports from Lithuania were directed to Sweden, 35 percent. to Latvia, and the remaining 60% to export to Poland with the “LitPol Link” connector.

The bandwidth utilization of the “LitPol Link” connection for the flow of electricity reached 36 percent. in the direction of Poland and 35 percent. in the direction of Lithuania. NordBalt’s bandwidth utilization was 2 percent. in the direction of Sweden and 73 percent. in the direction of Lithuania.