Next year clear and solar energy producers could help cover up to one-third of the distribution network’s total energy consumption, predicts electricity distribution system operator Sadales tīkls JSC (ST) board chairman Sandis Jansons.
He explained that previously the high voltage network received electricity mainly from hydroelectric power plants and thermal power plants. After that electricity was passed to the distribution network and then it was distributed among the end users. The situation will change, as electricity will go in two directions.
«In the future we may see situations when we will no longer have to take energy from the high voltage network,» said Jansons. He said currently there are more than 11 500 households connected to the distribution network that will be able to generate 90 MW of electricity on sunny days and more than 100 MW during the summer. Additionally, there are legal persons connected to the distribution network able to produce 18 MW. Permits have been issued this year for installation of new solar panels. This will help increase power output to close to 100 MW next summer.
Jansons said there are smaller and larger solar parks that want to connect to the distribution network and sell electricity. Projects are ready, and connections for nearly 90 MW are already paid. He said he is confident that at the beginning or middle of next year the power output from solar parks will likely reach close to 100 MW.
«If we put these numbers together, we will see electricity output of around 300 MW of solar energy on sunny days around mid-2023. If we look at consumption, on sunny days it reaches 800-900 MW. This way it is possible that solar energy generators will be able to cover one-third of consumption volumes. We are confident this trend will develop. We have to be ready as well,» said Jansons.
Sadales tīkls is provided with funding worth EUR 40 million from European Recovery and Resilience Facility in order to reinforce the network.
«In the future we hope to apply for funding from RePowerEU in order to ensure the network is able to accept energy-dissipated generation capacity. It is clear the total balance of energy transmission will only increase, because basically all green energy eventually passes through the electricity supply system. We have to be prepared to ensure all residents and legal persons in Pieriga are able to install solar panels and charge electric cars,» said Jansons.