Latvia plans to increase the share of renewable energy in final consumption to 60 percent by 2030, according to the updated National Energy and Climate Plan (NECP) for 2021-2023.
In Latvia’s previous NECP, which was drawn up in 2019, the renewable energy target was set at 50 percent in final consumption.
According to the updated plan, the renewable energy target is 100 percent in electricity generation, 66.4 percent in heating, 29 percent in transport, 65 percent in buildings, 73.1 percent in industry and 30 percent in agriculture, forestry and fisheries.
The updated plan aims to ensure at least 5.5 percent (previously 3.5 percent) share of advanced biofuels in Latvia’s final transport energy consumption by 2030.
The targets set in the updated plan aim to reduce Latvia’s greenhouse gas emissions from activities other than large energy and industry by 17 percent (previously 6 percent) compared to 2005.
The plan also aims to reduce total electricity consumption to 44,717 gigawatt hours (GWh) by 2030 from 50,088 GWh in 2022.
Representatives of the Climate and Energy Ministry note that updating the plan was a major and joint efforts of industry associations and government ministries. On Wednesday, June12, the ministry published the draft plan on the legislative acts portal. The draft NECP should be agreed by June 25.
Climate and Energy Minister Kaspars Melnis (Greens/Farmers) says that the plan is a clear vector for achieving climate goals and future energy development – affordable, locally produced, renewable energy for households and businesses.
The original NECP was developed in 2019, before the Covid-19 pandemic and the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Melnis noted that these events fundamentally changed the role of energy, especially renewables, the economic situation, the wider market penetration of green technologies. Extreme weather has also become more commonplace, including in Latvia.
After the finalization of the plan, the final version of the NECP will be submitted to the Cabinet of Ministers by June 30. Following government approval, the updated NECP will be submitted to the European Commission. The transition to a climate-friendly economy is taking place in all European Union (EU) member states, which is why the drafting of the national plans is taking place simultaneously in all member states to ensure coherent implementation.
Source: BNS
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