In 2026, seven new renewable energy power plants and two Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) facilities with a combined connection capacity of 737 megawatts (MW) have been connected to the transmission network of Latvian transmission system operator JSC Augstsprieguma tīkls (AST). By the end of the year, connections are planned for a further eight renewable energy power plants with a total capacity of 913 MW, reflecting the continued rapid development of solar, wind and energy storage projects in Latvia. 

This year, five new solar power parks with a combined connection capacity of 519 MW and two wind farms with a total capacity of 150 MW have been connected to the transmission network. In addition, two BESS facilities with a total capacity of 68 MW have been connected to the transmission network. By the end of the year, AST plans to connect four more wind farms and four hybrid solar power plant and BESS parks with a combined capacity of 913 MW.

"The structure of generation capacity connected to Latvia's transmission network is changing rapidly. In 2020, fossil-fuel power plants accounted for more than 40% of the total capacity of electricity generation facilities connected to the transmission network, whereas by 2025 their share had declined to 29%. During the past two years, renewable generation capacity has increased by 67%, and this transition will continue to be driven by the connection of new wind and solar power plants, as well as battery storage systems. At the same time, as the share of weather-dependent electricity generation increases, the importance of controllable generation capacity in ensuring resource adequacy and the secure operation of the power system will remain unchanged," says Rolands Irklis, Chairman of the Management Board of Latvian transmission system operator AST. 

The rapid development of renewable energy and battery storage facilities has also had a significant impact on Latvia's electricity balance. While in previous years electricity generation in Latvia covered, on average, around two-thirds of the country's annual consumption, in the first half of 2026 generation exceeded consumption by 7%. Renewable energy power plants currently account for 71% of the total capacity of power plants connected to the transmission network.

By mid-2026, the capacity of solar and wind generation connected to the transmission system exceeded 1,100 MW, while BESS capacity approached 200 MW. Based on connection agreements concluded by AST for new grid connections, this generation and battery storage capacity could double over the next three years. 

Currently, the total reserved capacity for connecting new energy facilities to the transmission network, including projects planned for connection this year, amounts to 4,283 MW. Developers have also expressed interest in connecting power plants with an additional capacity of 1,914 MW. In accordance with amendments to the Electricity Market Law, capacity for these projects will be reserved upon the signing of a connection agreement. As a result, the combined capacity of concluded and planned connection agreements has reached 6,197 MW.

The largest concentration of new generation and electricity storage capacity this year can be observed in Kurzeme, where a new wind farm together with a BESS facility (60+60 MW) has been connected to the grid in Liepāja, as well as two solar power parks in Ventspils (110 MW) and in South Kurzeme Municipality near Cīrava (199 MW). In Zemgale, a new wind farm (90 MW) has started electricity generation in Jelgava Municipality, while a BESS facility (8 MW) has been connected to the grid in the city of Jelgava. In Vidzeme, two solar power parks have commenced operations near Matīši in Valmiera Municipality (40 MW) and near Barkava in Madona Municipality (60 MW). In Latgale, a solar power park has been connected to the grid in Krāslava Municipality (66.6 MW, with the park's planned capacity reaching 110 MW).