In 2021 gross energy consumption in Latvia constituted 192.9 petajoules (PJ), which is 4.9% more than in 2020.
In 2021, in hydroelectric, wind, and solar power plants together 2 856 GWh of electricity were produced, which is 2.5 % (71 GWh) more than in 2020. The amount of electricity produced in solar power plants went up by 40 % (2 GWh) and that produced in hydroelectric power plants by 4% (105 GWh), while the amount produced in wind power plants fell by 20.3% (36 GWh).
Fuelwood (firewood, wood waste, wood chips, wood briquettes, pelleted wood) and hydro resources in Latvia are used the most commonly. As consumption of local energy resources is growing, Latvian energy dependence fell from 52 % in 2015 to 39 % in 2021. Moreover, over the recent years the structure of gross energy consumption has changed – as the share of natural gas is declining and the proportion of renewables is growing, according to data of the Central Statistical Bureau of Latvia.
Over the past ten years (from 2012 to 2021), the gross consumption of natural gas has gone down by 20.4% (10.3 PJ) and its share in the gross energy consumption has dropped by 5.7 percentage points.
In 2021 the share of natural gas in the gross energy consumption constituted 21%, while that of renewables – 41.2%. Last year the share of petroleum products in the gross energy consumption accounted for 33 % and that of other energy resources for 4.8%. At the same time, the share of fuelwood has grown by 4.9 percentage points over the past decade, constituting 32.4% last year. In 2021, compared to the year before, the volume of wood chips produced went up by 10% (2.9 PJ) and exports of pelleted wood increased by 8.3% (3.3 PJ).
As the gross consumption of renewables is increasing, Latvia is getting closer to the strategic objective regarding use of renewable energy resources aiming at reaching 44.3 % of the energy produced from renewables in the gross final energy consumption until 2025. Latvia has the third highest share of renewables in the final energy consumption in the European Union (EU); in 2020, the indicator constituted 42.13% (EU average 22.09%). Latvia shall ensure that until 2030 the share of renewables consumed in transport sector accounts for 14%. In 2020 Latvian share of renewables in transport constituted 6.73% and EU average 10.22%.
In 2021, 51.8 PJ of energy resources were consumed and 42 PJ of energy were produced in transformation sector (of which 31.2 PJ of heat and 10.8 PJ of electricity), which is 11.6% more than in 2020. Production of heat and electricity in Latvia mainly is based on fossil fuel – natural gas – the share whereof in transformation sector has been decreasing gradually: from 74.1% in 2012 to 49. 5% in 2020 and 47.7% in 2021.
Over the past five years the share of renewables consumed in transformation sector has risen by 5.1 percentage points, reaching 51.9% in 2021.
It may be assessed as a positive trend, bearing in mind that the renewables used in transformation sector, i.e., fuelwood, biogas and other biomass, are local resources. Compared to 2020 increase in transformation sector was recorded in consumption of heavy fuel oil (of 43 TJ), which had upward impact on the total consumption of petroleum products in the sector – rise of 63.5% compared to the year before. Decline, in turn, was registered in consumption of liquefied petroleum gas (of 3 TJ), wood waste (96 TJ), and other biogas (0.6 PJ).
In 2021 final energy consumption constituted 174.6 PJ, which is 5.5% more than in 2020. No notable changes were recorded in the final energy consumption over the past ten years. Last year households, which consumed 50.4 PJ of energy (28.8% of final consumption), were the largest energy consumers, followed by transport sector with 49.6 PJ or 28.4 % and industry with 41.2 PJ or 23.6%.
Compared to 2020, last year rise in the final consumption of energy resources was recorded in manufacture of chemicals and chemical products (of 20.1%), while decline was registered in agriculture and forestry (of 6.5%).
Along with the lift of the Covid-19 restrictions last year the demand for fuel and consumption of it in transport sector went up – compared to 2020, in 2021 it grew by 5.3% or 2.5 PJ constituting 49.6 PJ. Diesel is the main energy resource used in transport, in 2021, compared to 2020, consumption thereof in transport went up by 1.7 PJ or 5.3%. Consumption of diesel in transport sector has risen by 1.3% (439 TJ) over the past five years. During the period, consumption of motor petrol has declined by 13.4 %, constituting 7 PJ in 2021, which is 0.9% fewer than in 2020.
In 2021 consumption of electricity in transport amounted to 351 TJ, which is 3.5% more than in 2020 (339 TJ). Last year, compared to 2020, drop in the consumption electricity was still observed in pipeline transport where it constituted 4 TJ or 26.7% fewer than in 2020, moreover electricity consumption in pipeline transport has reduced by 73.2% (30 TJ) over the past five years.
Increase in electricity consumption, in turn, was registered in road transport and rail transport – of 6.1% (6 TJ) and 4.4% (10 TJ), respectively.
Over a five-year period, consumption of energy in industry has gone up by 5.3 PJ or 14.8% and compared to 2020 it has risen by 1.6 PJ or 4% constituting 41.2 PJ in 2021. In 2021 the highest consumption of energy resources was recorded in manufacture of wood and of products of wood and cork – 22.2 PJ or 54 % of the energy consumption in industry. During the past five tears consumption of petroleum products in industry has increased by 15.2%. In 2021 final energy consumption in construction amounted to 4.1 PJ, which is 7.7% more than in 2020 (3.8 PJ).
In 2021 energy consumption in households amounted to 50.4 PJ, which is 7.8% more than in 2020. Structure of the energy resources consumed in households has not changed notably over the recent years – fuelwood is used the most commonly. Compared to 2020, consumption of natural gas in households has risen by 5.4% (246 TJ) that may be explained by the prolonged heating season. Electricity consumption (due to the opportunity to keep working remotely) in households is still growing, and in 2021 it was 2.6% higher than a year before.