Electricity production falls by a fifth in May, consumption by two per cent

In Estonia last month, 20 per cent less electricity was produced compared with May last year, or a total of 612 gigawatt-hours, while consumption also fell by two per cent to 622 gigawatt-hours.

The Estonian electricity system was a net importer for 53 per cent of the time in May, and the monthly electricity balance ran a deficit totalling 10 gigawatt-hours. Domestically produced electricity energy covered 98 per cent of consumption requirements.

Electricity production from fossil fuels fell by 19 per cent in May and from renewable sources by 28 per cent; of that, due to poor wind conditions, wind energy production fell by more than half. Biomass sources made up 69 per cent of renewable sources in May. Renewable energy sources covered 11.9 per cent of domestic consumption.

The transit quota passing through the system rose by an annual rate of three per cent, totalling 390 gigawatt-hours.

In comparison with May last year, electricity production in the Baltic States fell by a total of ten per cent and consumption by nine per cent. The total deficit in the three countries’ electricity balance fell by six per cent to 531 gigawatt-hours, totalling 29 per cent of the three states’ total electricity consumption.

In Latvia, electricity production grew by 37 per cent to 528 gigawatt-hours, but in Lithuania, it fell 44 per cent to 167 gigawatt-hours. A total of 61 per cent of Latvia’s production came from hydro power plants. Consumption increased by one per cent in Latvia, yet fell in Lithuania by 20 per cent compared with May to 658 gigawatt-hours. Local power stations covered 25 per cent of Lithuania’s domestic electricity consumption.

In the Nordic States, electricity production fell by four per cent in May compared with last year, and consumption fell by three per cent. In total, the Nordic States had a surplus of 961 gigawatt-hours.

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