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On 27th of June, Eesti Gaas opened its first solar power plant near Liepaja in Nica. The plant has a capacity of approximately 4 megawatts.
“Gas is a partner in renewable energy, and Latvia is an important market for us. Our goal is to diversify our energy portfolio and bring new megawatts to the market. We regularly evaluate various projects and directions in the renewable energy sector to develop in the coming years. We see potential in solar and wind energy and biomethane production,” said Margus Kaasik, Chairman of the Board of Eesti Gaas.
“Every new renewable energy project brings Latvia closer to stable and affordable energy prices for both residents and businesses, creates jobs, and promotes economic development. A diversified energy production portfolio, which includes solar, wind, biogas, and in the future hydrogen and other sources, strengthens the country’s independence from external influences,” said Latvian Minister of Climate and Energy, Kaspars Melnis.
Nica is one of the sunniest regions in Latvia, and the plant covers an area of 5.3 hectares. The solar park, with nearly 7,000 panels, will produce 4.5 GWh of energy annually. The solar power plant was built in cooperation with SIA “OMS”, one of the largest electrical installation builders in the Kurzeme region. The solar power plant was completed on a market basis, without state support, and Eesti Gaas invested 2.5 million euros in its construction.
Eesti Gaas began producing solar energy in 2019 when it launched Estonia’s largest solar park complex at the time, in collaboration with a company owned by the city of Pärnu, on the site of the former Rääma landfill. The Pärnu solar power plant consists of 13,000 panels and has a panel capacity of 4.7 megawatts. Additionally, Eesti Gaas has established around twenty smaller solar power plants for its clients across Estonia.
In addition to producing electricity from solar energy, Eesti Gaas is also active in the renewable energy sector in the field of green gas, selling gas produced at its green gas plants in Oisu, Järva County, Ilmatsalu, Tartu County, and Vinni, Lääne-Viru County, as vehicle fuel at its CNG filling stations. Green gas, or biomethane, is a circular economy-promoting fuel with a negative carbon footprint, produced from biodegradable waste, manure, slurry, and food waste.
Eesti Gaas is the largest privately-owned energy company in the Finland and Baltic region, with 80 percent of the group’s revenues coming from foreign markets. In addition to Estonia, the company operates in Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland, under the name Elenger in foreign markets.
