Power Consumption Decreases One Per Cent in February, Production Increases Nine Per Cent

Estonian power production totalled 947 gigawatt-hours in February, which is nine per cent more in a year-on-year comparison. Production from fossil fuels increased eight per cent, and production from renewable sources by 22 per cent.

Exports constituted the largest part of the growth in Estonia’s power production, increasing by 64 per cent compared to February last year to reach 231 gigawatt-hours.

Domestic power consumption in Estonia fell one per cent in a year-on-year comparison to 719 gigawatt-hours. The drop in consumption was due to the somewhat warmer temperatures this year.

Transit flows passing through the Estonian transmission system totalled 312 gigawatt-hours in February, which is 28 per cent less than last year. All in all, production in Estonia exceeded consumption by 32 per cent in February, and net exports totalled 229 gigawatt-hours.

In the area of renewable energy production, wind energy production increased by 38, hydro energy production by 34 and bio energy production by six per cent in February. The increase in production from wind power plants was due to favourable wind conditions; for example, according to the Estonian Weather Service, the average daily wind speed at the Virtsu and Pakri measuring stations was 31 per cent higher than at the same time last year. All in all, renewable energy production totalled 133 gigawatt-hours in February, covering 16.4 per cent of domestic consumption.

Compared to February last year, electricity production in Latvia decreased by 21 per cent to 389 gigawatt-hours, and consumption fell by three per cent, reaching 605 gigawatt-hours. The Latvian electricity balance ran a deficit of 217 gigawatt-hours last month, which was covered by imports via the Estonian transmission system.

In Lithuania, electricity production decreased by three per cent in a year-on-year comparison, totalling 230 gigawatt-hours. At the same time, electricity consumption increased by one per cent, reaching 856 gigawatt-hours. Domestic production covered only 27 per cent of consumption, with 47 per cent of the electricity energy deficit covered by imports from Latvia and the remaining 53 per cent imported from third countries.

Total electricity production in the Baltic countries fell by two per cent compared to last year, reaching 1566 gigawatt hours in February. Consumption in the Baltics totalled 2180 gigawatt-hours this February, decreasing by one per cent in an annual calculation. The gross deficit of the electricity balance in the Baltic countries totalled 614 gigawatt-hours in February, which is approximately as much as last year.

For 59 per cent of the time in February, the imbalance in transmission system of at least one of the Baltic States contrasted with the imbalances of the other transmission systems, meaning that the imbalances of the Baltic countries balanced each other. As a result, prices for open supply and balance energy were lower than a year ago.

Electricity consumption in the Nordic Countries increased by one per cent compared to last year. Consumption increased in Norway and Sweden but decreased in Finland and Denmark. Electricity production stayed at the same level as last February, and the electricity balance surplus totalled 0.9 terawatt-hours last month.

A full overview of the electricity system for February is available here (in Estonian).