Electricity in Latvia in 2022
In 2022, electricity consumption in Latvia saw low-carbon energy contribute nearly half of the total power generation, with hydropower being the largest contributor at almost 38%. Fossil-fuels make up just under a fifth of Latvia's electricity generation, with gas accounting for the entire share of this category. Biofuels, wind, and solar energy made up the rest of the sources, coming in at about 9%, a little over 2%, and close to none respectively. Interestingly, Latvia relies significantly on net electricity imports, making up more than 31% of its electricity consumption. During peak periods, this figure all but covers Latvia's power needs, rising to an astounding 97%.
Suggestions
To increase its low-carbon energy generation, Latvia could draw inspiration from countries that have successfully harnessed both nuclear and wind power. As a landlocked country, much like Slovakia and Hungary, Latvia could tap into nuclear power which supplies 57% and 33% of these countries' electricity mix respectively. With its favourable climate and terrain, Latvia could also drastically increase its almost negligible wind power capacity, analogous to Denmark, where wind power fulfils more than half of the country's electricity needs.
History
Low-carbon electricity in Latvia, powered largely by hydropower, has had a volatile history. The late 1980s witnessed an increase in hydroelectric power, albeit with yearly fluctuations. This rise and dip continued into the 90s, with significant gains in '97 and '98 followed by a decline in '99. The start of the 21st century saw much of the same, with years of growth followed by sharp declines. The largest increase took place in 2017 with an impressive 1.9 TWh gain, which was subsequently negated by an equivalent loss the following year. The last available data for 2020 points to a modest increase in hydroelectric power, suggesting a potential for stable growth in Latvia's low-carbon energy sector in the future.