Wind Power in LITHUANIA

Lithuania possesses good wind-power resources in some areas of the country, mainly in the western coastal zone. Along the coast, wind speeds reach 5-5.5 m/s (at a height of  10 m).  In the centre of Lithuania, the speed of wind is 3.5-4 m/s. The impact of the Baltic Sea determines the difference in winds along the coast and in the inland regions.

The region also has potential for the development of wind power by means of offshore wind farms.  The most promising places are Palanga, Klaipeda, Kurshskay Spit and the western part of the inland territories.  

In 2002 Lithuania approved its present National Energy Strategy. One of the objectives of this Strategy is to increase the use of national energy resources and take advantage of renewable energy sources, following EU Directives aimed at reducing the volume of fuel imports as well as the creation of new jobs and improvement of environmental regulations. The specific measures to achieve these goals include:

  The creation and updating of programmes for the consumption of local energy resources;

  Incentives for widespread use of local energy sources by means of organizational, economic and financial measures, supporting companies and increasing production and installation of equipment devoted to the transformation and use of the aforesaid resources;

  The execution of projects that utilise wind, water and solar energy, as well as the use of other renewable and non-renewable energy sources.  The State will support the execution of these projects and create the structural conditions and other types of support for achieving goals within the framework of EU funds;

  The efforts directed at increasing quotas of renewable energies in the balance of primary energy until 2010 by 12 per cent and the guarantee that the quota will be close to fulfilling the requirements of EU Directives.  The proposed EU Directive for the promotion of renewable energies, set the goals of 23 per cent by 2020 for Lithuania.

  Incentives for Investment in Renewable Energies in Lithuania.

“Purchase guaranteed for a 20-year period. Purchase rate at 87€ Mwh” 

  The State, in virtue of its commitment to the European Union for 2020, encourages investment in photovoltaic solar energy in that country, above and beyond the EU Community average for this sector.      

  Utility companies must purchase, at a rate regulated by the government, 100%  of the energy fed into the grid, guaranteeing its purchase for a 20 year period.

  The premium paid is regulated and guaranteed by the State.  A purchase rate of 87€ Mwh has been set, higher than average for what is being paid in other Member States of the European Union.