Power Consumption Grew by 8% in February

Estonia’s power consumption was 8% greater than last year in February (844 GWh). The previous month also brought along this winter’s consumption record, when at 10:05 AM on February 6th the consumption in Estonia’s power grid was measured at 1572 MW.

Power generation has been in a declining trend since the beginning of the year, with 21% and 5% less production in January and February respectively, compared to the same periods last year. Elering’s Chairman of the Board Taavi Veskimägi said that the main reason for the decreased power generation was the relatively low pricing level on the power exchange, affected by Nordic prices. “This made domestic producers less competitive, on top of more stringent environmental requirements. New sulfur and nitrogen emission limits came into force at the beginning of 2012, reducing the permitted limit of SO2 emissions by electricity producers to 25 000 tons per year,” Veskimägi said.

In Latvia, the electricity production for February fell by 26% year-on-year, driven primarily by the near halving of the output of the Daugava hydroelectric power station cascade. Thus, Latvia’s domestic power output was capable of covering 68% of the country’s own consumption. Latvia’s electricity imports from Estonia accounted for approximately 40% of its total imports.

In Lithuania, electricity production grew by 7% compared with the same period last year. The main reasons for this were the increase in Lithuania’s heat and power plant output by a factor of three, and high prices on the Lithuanian power exchange. Lithuania’s total output managed to cover 45% of the country’s own consumption in February, with a deficit of 521 GWh. February’s electricity imports into Lithuania from third countries accounted for approximately 74% of total imports.

At the same time, 50% of all electricity imported into Estonia came from Lithuania, with the amounts sold into the Estonian bidding area by Lithuanian market players having increased considerably compared to last year. Amounts imported from Finland grew as well, accounting for 43%.

In conclusion, the deficit of the Baltic States for the month of February was 640 GWh, more than double that of last year.

The complete February report on the power system is available here (only in Estonian).