Electricity consumption grows in February, production falls

According to preliminary data, Estonia’s domestic electricity consumption grew in February by four per cent to 746 gigawatt-hours, with consumption being affected by the extra day in February, among other factors.

Electricity production fell once again in February, dropping by 22 per cent in comparison with a year ago to 742 gigawatt-hours. Production fell as a result of the use of cheaper electricity from the Nordic countries. The NordBalt interconnection between Sweden and Lithuania, which has recently been added to the market, reduced the involvement of Estonian producers in covering the shortfall in its southern neighbours.

There was a deficit of four gigawatt-hours in the Estonian electricity balance. The Estonian electricity system operated under an import regimen for 56 per cent of the time in February. At the same time, transit flows passing through the Estonian electricity system grew by 40 per cent to 435 gigawatt-hours.

Production of electricity from renewable sources decreased in February year-on-year by six per cent to 127 gigawatt-hours. The amount of electricity produced from biomass and biogas remained at the same level as February 2015, while hydro production rose 15 per cent. Wind energy production fell by 13 per cent year-on-year, despite the increase in average wind speeds registered at Pakri and Virtsu. Electricity produced from renewable sources covered 15.6 per cent of consumption requirements last month.

In Latvia, a total of 441 gigawatt-hours were produced in February this year, which is 13 per cent more than the same time last year. Production was higher due to the increased availability of hydro resources compared with February last year. Electricity consumption also grew in Latvia by two per cent during the same period, and the electricity balance deficit totalled 180 gigawatt-hours. Latvian producers covered 71 per cent of domestic consumption, with the remaining 29 per cent covered by imports via the Estonian electricity system.

Electricity production in Lithuania remained at the same level as February last year, while consumption fell by 11 per cent. The Lithuanian electricity balance deficit fell by 16 per cent to 529 gigawatt-hours. A total of 30 per cent of domestic consumption was covered from sources other than local power plants. The share of the coverage of Lithuania’s deficit by imports from third countries fell due to the addition of the NordBalt interconnection.

The electricity deficit in the Baltic States as a whole increased year-on-year by 16 per cent to 712 gigawatt-hours. This deficit constituted 34 per cent of consumption in the three countries.

A full summary of the state of the electricity system in February is available here.