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 |
