CO2 emissions generated by Latvia’s energy sector in 2020 went down by 15%, according to estimates published by the Central Statistical Bureau of Latvia on climate change, natural resources and environment quality in 2021.
The biggest greenhouse gas pollution in Latvia is generated by the energy sector. It generates an average of 8 000 tonnes of CO2 annually which is equivalent to 60-70% of all pollution in the country. The lion’s share of the greenhouse gas consists of CO2, which mainly comes from burning fossil fuels (oil products, coal and gas). Compared with 2019, CO2 emissions in 2020 went down by 1.44 million tonnes or 15%.
CO2 intensity in Latvia continues gradually going down. In 2020 it was 8.7% lower than it was in 2019. In the last ten years CO2 intensity has gone down by 40%. Emissions generated by the transport sector in 2020 went down by 6.1% when compared with 2019.
The average European Union CO2 emission quota price in Europe’s energy exchange was 54.13 EUR/t of CO2 in 2021. In 2020 it was 2.2 times lower – 24.37 EUR/t. Since 2017 the price has increased 9.3 times – from 5.80 EUR/t to 54.13 EUR/t.
Latvia’s energy dependence was 45.5% in 2020. Over the course of the year it increased by 1.6 percentage points.
Among Baltic States energy dependence is the highest in Lithuania – in 2020 it was 74.9%. In Estonia it was 10.5%. Energy dependence index in percentage indicates the volume of energy resources that needs to be imported in order to cover demand for said energy resources in the country.
In the first half of 2022, when compared to the same period of 2021, the average price of natural gas (with taxes) sharply doubled – from 23.4 EUR/GJ to 47.2 EUR/GJ for households that consume no more than 20 GJ a year. For households that consume more, the price increased by EUR 8.5, reaching EUR 20.5.
Among Baltic States Latvia has the highest electricity price for average-size households. In 2021 electricity in Latvia cost 0.1645 EUR/kWh, in Estonia it was 0.1632 EUR/kWh and in Lithuania it was 0.1413 EUR/kWh. For average-sized end users that are not households, the price was the lowest among Baltic States: 0.143 EUR/kWh.
In the last ten years the volume of electricity generated using renewable energy resources in Latvia has remained the highest among Baltic States. It was 42.1% in 2020, which is higher than the national energy and climate plan target – 40%.
In Latvia nearly half of heating energy in the country is produced in Riga. Similar volumes are generated in regions. 62.7% of fuel types consumed in Riga are fossil fuels. In Vidzeme, Kurzeme and Zemgale 88% of consumed energy resources are renewables.