Publications

Survey of Energy Resources 2007

Hydropower Country Notes

Latvia

Although its hydro potential is quite modest - a gross theoretical capability of only about 7 TWh/yr -

Latvia is of interest for its rapid development of small-scale hydro plants in recent years. Beginning in 1992, after Latvia had regained its independence, a period of reconstruction and building of small hydropower stations ensued. This was stimulated mainly by the regulations adopted by the Government on the purchase of electric energy produced in small power plants which, in effect, subsidised the production of electric energy in such stations. In 1996 there were only 16 small hydro stations, which generated 4.5 GWh. By 1999, the number in service had grown to 53 and annual generation to 15 GWh. By 2005, the number in service was 140 and annual generation 61 GWh.

The total gross generating capacity of

Latvia ’s existing hydro power plants is 1 561 MW, comprised of the following:

Plant	Capacity (MW)	Number of units /plants
Plavinas HPP	869	10 units
Kegums HPP-1	72	4 units
Kegums HPP-2	192	3 units
Riga HPP	402	6 units
Small hydro	26	149 plants
Total	1 561

The Latvian WEC Member Committee notes that new (and not yet approved) Regulations of the Cabinet of Ministers on support of renewable energy (RES-E) sources assume the following utilisation of hydropower up to 2010:

	2007	2008	2009	2010
Large hydro > 5 MW
Share in energy balance, %	41.28	39.21	37.25	35.39
Annual generation, GWh	2 740	2 740	2 740	2 740
Capacity, MW	1 535	1 535	1 535	1 535
Small hydro < 5 MW
Share in energy balance, %	1.04	1.26	1.47	1.64
Annual generation, GWh	68	87	107	125
Capacity, MW	27	35	43	50

The guidelines for the utilisation of RES-E estimate the overall economic potential of small hydro power plants up to 2025 as in the range of 150 to 300 GWh per year.

Energy development forecasts of the Latvian power system to 2025 consider the possible construction of new hydro power plants on the river Daugava: Daugavpils HPP (100 MW) and Jekabpils HPP (30 MW).