News & events

2013-02-26

Country's Economic Growth Reflected by Increased Power Consumption in 2012

Demand and production of electricity increased in Lithuania last year, shows an analysis of the 2012 power system balance data conducted by electricity transmission system operator Litgrid. Gross national electricity consumption in 2012 was 10.6 terawatt-hours (TWh*), i.e. 2% more than in 2011.
 
“The increase in electricity consumption over the past year indicates that Lithuanian economy is recovering. Historical electric power system balance sheet data is an accurate reflection of a country's economic recessions and recoveries. This time, the data indicates that the country's economy is continuing to grow," says Virgilijus Poderys, the CEO of Litgrid.
 
The country's increased demand for electricity in 2012 was met by both locally produced and imported power. Compared with 2011, local production of electricity increased by 6%. The biggest part of local electricity production, i.e. 65%, was produced by gas-fired power stations. The increase in local electricity production was also augmented by electricity from renewable sources in Lithuania. Their share of the local production portfolio grew by almost one-sixth. Due to the relatively dry summer, the volume of electricity generated by hydroelectric power stations accounted for just a tenth of the total last year.
 
Electricity consumption grew in all segments. The greatest growth in electricity demand - 12% - was in agriculture, and 10% more electricity was consumed in the transport sector. Compared with 2011, industrial consumption grew 2.6% last year; slight growth was also observed in the service sector and households - 1.6% and 1%, respectively.
 
In 2012, electricity imports into Lithuania decreased by 1.8%. In total, imports made up 63% of the country's total electricity consumption last year. As was previously announced, the amount of electricity imported into Lithuania from Russia decreased by 13% last year, while electricity imports from Estonia increased by more than one third. 
 
*1 terawatt-hour (TWh) equals one billion kilowatt-hours.
 
GWh 2011 2012
Generation (Netto) 4452 4706
Thermal 2783 3036
Lietuvos elektrinė 1099 1423
Vilniaus energija 535 434
Kauno termofikacijos elektrinė 369 321
Panevėžio energija 187 96
Other 593 762
Hidro 1048 935
Kauno HP 386 325
Kruonio HPSP 573 514
Small hidro 90 96
Wind 472 538
Wind parks connected to transmision grid 382 437
Wind parks connected to distribution grid 91 101
Other RES 148 198
Bio 148 195
Solar 0 2
 
Commercial power balance
(-import/+export)
-6739 -6619
with Russia -5546 -4811
with Estonia -1088 -1478
with Latvia 46 -188
with Belarus -150 -141
 
Total consumption in Lithuania 11190 11325
Energy stored in Kruonio HPSP 796 718
Total load 10394 10607
Transmision and distribution losses 937 947
End consumption 9457 9659
Industry 3607 3704
Transport 100 110
Agriculture 205 230
Households 2618 2642
Service and other consumers 2927 2974