Publications

Survey of Energy Resources 2007

Geothermal Country Notes

Lithuania
In the years following independence (1990), Lithuania has firstly been transforming its political system into a market economy and secondly moving away from its heavy reliance on fossil fuels and nuclear to a greater dependence on renewable energy. Membership of the European Union (2004) and national legislation passed in the first years of the 21st century are the main driving forces for this development.

Lithuania's geothermal resource, lying in the west of the country, has been found to be significant. In 2000 the 41 MWt (18 MW geothermal heat and 23 MW heat from absorption heat pump driven boilers) Klaipeda Geothermal Demonstration Plant (KGDP) was commissioned and began producing 25% of the heat required by the city of Klaipeda.

Much work has been undertaken on the thermal waters in Vilkaviskis, a city in the southwestern part of the country, with a view to developing balneological uses and also a district heating scheme.

To date, Lithuania's extensive low-temperature resource has been harnessed for more than 200 ground-source heat pumps. A total of some 3 MWt has been installed in the residential sector.

It is planned to increase the contribution of geothermal energy by developing new plants including possibly some for power generation.