Lithuanian district heating to help reduce energy imports

Lithuania is in the process of constructing 60 biofuel plants, it hopes will help offset the need for future energy imports, particularly during deep-winter.

Lithuanian biofuel will generate two thirds of district heating volume, according to the Lithuanian District Heating Association (LETA/ELTA).

The body estimates that for the 2015/16 heating season, boiler plants of heat supplying companies as well as combined heat and power plants will consume around 512,000 tonnes of oil equivalent (toe) of biofuel and 278,000 toe of gas. In 2013 they consumed 308,000 toe of biofuel and 634,000 toe of gas.

According to Vytautas Stasiunas, President of the Lithuanian District Heating Association (LSTA), next year heat supplying companies will need gas only in the coldest days of the year, when heat generation equipment will be working at full capacity.

In late 2014, installed thermal power capacity of biofuel equipment with condensing heat exchangers used by heat supplying and independent heat generating companies totalled 1,182 (MW). By late 2015 it will reach 1,621 MW. Aggregate capacity of new biofuel plants will reach 440 MW.

According to the LSTA president, capital city Vilnius will remain the biggest consumer of gas. Biofuel in the capital will constitute 40% of the total fuel used to produce heat.

Source: COSPP