29.09.2022
In August, the electricity distribution system operator Sadales tīkls AS received 214 applications from customers to connect a power plant, which is a record high. The increase is due to amendments to the Electricity Market Law, simplifying the connection process from August 11 for power plants with a maximum permitted generation of up to 500 kilowatts (kW). Such power plants no longer need a permit from the Ministry of Economy.
In total, the Sadales tīkls has already reserved generation capacity for several hundred power plants, which are currently in the development phase. The total amount of reserved power is more than 1000 megawatts (MW). The amount of spare generation capacity in the distribution system that has not yet been reserved is about the same - mostly available in areas with high electricity consumption. Customers can still apply to reserve this power.
"Interest in developing power plants has grown significantly this year – for example, in August this year we received almost 20 times more applications than in the same month last year. While interest is huge, generation capacity in active consumption centres is still available. In addition, the situation with spare power at different substations is changing, as the electrical network is being developed in a planned manner, which is gradually increasing the amount of power available. However, if a power plant is to be developed primarily for self-consumption, the zero export power option is available at any of our substations, regardless of the amount of generation capacity already reserved. The zero export power connection is suitable for customers who want to produce electricity to cover their own needs - for immediate consumption," says Sandis Jansons, Chairman of the Management Board of Sadales tīkls.
Almost all of the newly applied power plants that customers want to connect to the distribution system are solar parks. How soon they will be built depends on the complexity of each project and the developers themselves. However, given the validity of the technical requirements and the developers' interest to build the plants as soon as possible, the less complex projects could be completed as early as next summer.
The number of households self-generating electricity in Latvia also continues to grow rapidly – at the end of September, around 9200 micro-generators with a total electricity generation capacity of 73 MW were already connected to the distribution system. Of these, the vast majority – around 7260 micro-generators – joined in 2022.
The total power from solar generation already connected to Sadales tīkls is currently around 85 MW, including 73 MW of micro-generation and around 12 MW of solar power plants. This is expected to increase noticeably already next summer, when some of the newly built solar parks will be commissioned, and micro-generation volumes will continue to grow.
It is possible to connect a micro-generator, which is an electricity generating installation with a power limit of up to 11.1 kW (mainly household solar panels), or a power plant, a generation system with a capacity of between 11.1 kW and 14.999 megawatts (MW), to the distribution system. Power plants with higher capacities can be connected to the electricity transmission system (Augstsprieguma tīkls AS). More information on connecting a power plant or a micro-generator to Sadales tīkls is available on the company’s website www.sadalestikls.lv.