Domestic Electricity Consumption and Production Continued to Increase in July

Compared to the same period last year, domestic electricity consumption increased by 2% - to 563 gigawatt-hours; production increased by 7% - to 914 gigawatt-hours.

While consumption increased in July compared to the same period last year, the annual domestic consumption for the first 7 months of this year was still on a 2% decline.

Growth in electricity production in July was affected in particular by electricity exports and, partially, the increase in domestic consumption. Electricity production exceeded consumption by 62% in July of this year, and export of electricity increased by 17% in the annual comparison, net export being 351 gigawatt-hours. At the same time, electricity generation for the first 7 months of this year saw a 9% decrease compared to the same period of last year.

Renewable energy production for the last month totalled 77.8 gigawatt-hours, i.e. 15% more than in the same period last year. Output growth was generated mainly at the expense of biomass. In percentages, production of hydroelectric plants saw the largest increase, while production of wind energy decreased due to unfavourable wind conditions. The share of renewable energy in total electricity consumption was 12% in July.

In July, electricity production in Latvia decreased by 14% on the year-on-year basis, amounting to 294 gigawatt-hours. Consumption increased by 2%, reaching 553 gigawatt-hours. Decrease in production in combined heat and power plants had the biggest impact on production decrease, as did the limited production of hydroelectric plants that is characteristic to the summer period. Latvian electricity deficit totalled 259 gigawatt-hours in July.

Lithuanian electricity production in July increased by 27% compared to the same period last year, reaching 336 gigawatt-hours. The increase was caused by the limited import options of more affordable electricity, the deepened electricity deficit in Latvia, and the maintenance works of the production unit in Kaliningrad. Lithuanian total domestic consumption was 876 gigawatt-hours in July, whereof 38% was covered by domestic production.

The total electricity deficit of the Baltic States was 447 gigawatt-hours in July, a 3% decrease from the same period of last year. The deficit made up 22% of the overall consumption of all three Baltic States.

Compared to last year, electricity production in the Nordics increased by 2%, amounting to 26.5 terawatt-hours in total. The growth was due to high water levels in hydro reservoirs. Consumption in the Nordics remained on the same level as in July last year. Nordic electricity balance was positive in July this year - total production exceeded consumption by 7% and 1.6 terawatt-hours. Norway and Sweden were again electricity exporters, while Finland and Denmark were electricity importers.

The full summary of the electricity system in July is available here (in Estonian).