The Baltic electricity transmission systems synchronization with continental Europe which is planned after 2025 will not have a significant impact to the power adequacy, but in synchronization mode, the available power reserve in Latvia will have to be increased, is concluded in the TSO annual statement, prepared by Latvian electricity transmission system operator AS Augstsprieguma tikls.

"Taking into account the commitments and the decisions made by the Baltic States to start working synchronously with continental Europe after 2025, in this statement, the first time situations in 2025 has been modeled with a probabilistic approach, where the generation capacities in each Baltic country might be insufficient to cover the peak load and the necessary reserves. Results of analysis are evaluated as positive - the possible number of hours in Latvia where generation capacity might be insufficient to cover the peak load and provide reserves is 0.3 hours per year, while the European standard allows up to three hours of capacity and reserve insufficiency. Moreover is evaluated scenario assumes that two energy producers – Imanta CHP and Riga CHP-1 - do not participate in the power adequcy, due to changes of support scheme", explains Mr. Varis Boks, Chairman of Board of AS Augstsprieguma tīkls.

The annual statement is an important document of development for the Latvian electricity transmission system, because it analyzes several possible generation development scenarios electricity consumption and peak load, electricity balance for a 10-year period and informs about available capacities to cover the daily peak load in coming future.

The report concludes that in the next decade the share of small-scale electricity generation will significantly increase in the total balance of Latvia, as well as increase of the role of active consumers for provision of electricity system balance, therefore, is necessary to introduce a national electricity data exchange platform in Latvia in order to promote not only the electricity production but also demand side response according to electricity market principles. The creation of data exchange platform is necessary to facilitate the digitization of electricity transmission system and to ensure the involvement of small-scale generators and active consumers in balancing of electricity system.

In spite of increase of planned share of small-scale power generators, the generation capacity deficit is expected in both Latvia and the Baltic States in general, approximately half of the large of thermal generation capacity will be shut down during the next decade. In the coming years, interconnections, reinforcement of the electricity transmission network and integration of the Baltic electricity systems into the continental European will play an important role to cover the electricity demand, has been concluded in the annual statement, prepared by AS Augstsprieguma tikls.

The information of the Latvian electricity system used in the TSO annual statement is the basis for the 10-year development plan of power transmission system of Latvia and is being used in the European Ten Year Network Development Plan, prepared by European Network Transmission System Operator of Electricity (ENTSO-E), which is the main document for possibilities of EU co-financing attracting in future for the development of electricity transmission network.

The TSO annual statement for year 2017 can be found here.