Posts Tagged ‘energy’
NIB co-finances biogas production in Eskilstuna, Sweden
NIB and Eskilstuna Biogas AB have signed a seven-year loan to co-finance the construction of a new biogas production plant in a facility near Eskilstuna, Sweden. The EUR 15 million loan is supported by the European Union under the InvestEU programme and is eligible under NIB’s InvestEU Framework Operation Green Mobility and Transport.
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Originally published on 26 Mar
Read MoreLithuanian Scientists Develop Innovative Technology to Turn Waste into Clean Hydrogen
Lithuanian researchers from Kaunas University of Technology (KTU) and the Lithuanian Energy Institute (LEI) have developed a groundbreaking hydrogen production technology that transforms waste into valuable, clean hydrogen fuel. This new method not only boosts hydrogen extraction efficiency but also addresses the persistent issue of tar formation in the gasification process. By offering a more sustainable energy solution, the technology holds significant promise for reducing industry’s reliance on fossil fuels and fostering a cleaner energy future.
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Originally published on 24 Mar
Read MorePrince William visited Sunly to discuss energy security and hybrid renewable parks
Prince William visited Sunly to examine how hybrid energy parks are strengthening energy security and reducing reliance on fossil fuels. The visit, part of his tour including meetings with British troops under NATO’s Operation Cabrit, comes weeks after the Baltic states permanently disconnected from the Russian power grid and integrated with the European system.
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Originally published on 21 Mar
Read MoreThis grid is an island A battery will help Bornholm get more out of renewables
One of the ironies of Bornholm’s power grid is that, even though most of the island’s electricity is generated on the island, it is not until the undersea cable linking it to Sweden cuts out that Beof, the local power company, goes into island mode. Sadly for the environment, this means decoupling the wind turbines that give the island most of its energy and firing up four diesel-powered generators. The thinking is that green ambitions are good, but the 25 megawatts of stable energy the generators can deliver are critical for keeping the grid stable.
In 2026, however, Beof will flip the switch on a 10 megawatt battery that will help maintain grid stability, and not just in the event of an emergency. Developed with Hitachi Energy, the battery addresses the fundamental challenge that arises when relying on unpredictable renewable energy to meet predictable demand. Since no-one is talking about going back to oil or coal, the only supply-side option is to come up with a way balance the two. The Bornholm battery will accomplish this by absorbing excess electricity when the wind is blowing, or the sun is shining, and then deliver it back when it is needed.
The battery’s importance extends beyond local energy needs. Energinet, the national grid operator, views such technologies as essential for future energy systems, and Bornholm could provide a model. In a world that is going green, island mode may soon become the new black.
Read MoreEnergy communities – the future of sustainable heating and electricity in Latvia
The second Green4HEAT regional working group took place in Salaspils, where representatives of local governments, experts of heat supply companies and energy specialists discussed the development of energy communities in Latvia. The event took place within the framework of the Interreg Europe programme project Green4HEAT, which aims to accelerate the deployment of low-temperature heating solutions by promoting cooperation and knowledge sharing between regions.
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Originally published on 11 Mar
Read MoreLatvia Ready to Adopt Norway’s Experience in Green Hydrogen Development
Today, a study was presented regarding the role of green hydrogen in the Norwegian economy and its potential development in Latvia. Currently, Norway produces 10% of Europe’s total green hydrogen, making it the second-largest player in the industry after Germany. Latvia has also begun early-stage hydrogen technology applications in various sectors, including water transport and aviation fuel, which could potentially establish a new economic industry.
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Originally published on 10 Mar
Read MoreSunly to Build a €7 Million Battery Storage Unit at Raba Solar Park
Sunly, in collaboration with Metsagrupp, is developing a 16 MW / 32 MWh battery energy storage system (BESS) next to the 45 MW Raba solar park. The total project cost is €7 million, and it will be built without subsidies. Construction is set to begin this summer, with completion expected in early 2026.
The construction permit for the Raba battery park, located in Pärnumaa, was obtained in January, and work will commence in the coming months. The 16 MW battery can store 32 MWh of electricity over two hours, ensuring that solar energy can be used even when the sun is not shining.
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Originally published on 7 Mar
Read MoreNIB, Luminor and NORD/LB to co-finance a 148 MWp solar farm in Latvia
NIB, Luminor Bank and NORD/LB have agreed to co-finance a 148 MWp solar farm in the Ventspils municipality. The project is developed by Stelo Orienta SIA, a subsidiary of European Energy, a Danish renewable energy company.
The overall financing amounts to EUR 68 million. NIB’s EUR 28 million loan is supported by the European Union under NIB’s InvestEU Framework Operation on Clean Energy Transition. This is NIB’s first InvestEU loan in Latvia.
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Originally published on 6 Mar
Read MoreNord Stream 2 revival met with Baltic chill
Germany and its Baltic allies have flatly rejected suggestions that delivery of Russian gas via the Nord Stream 2 pipeline may resume. Rumours that such a plan are afoot emerged on Sunday, when the Financial Times, a news outlet, reported that a former boss of Gazprom, the Russian firm that operated the pipeline, was working to revive the €11 billion project.
To its boosters, the pipeline running along the floor of the Baltic Sea was a sign that Russia was securely tethered to Europe and the west. Its detractors, both those who remained unconvinced that Moscow was indeed an ally, as well as greens agitating for lower, greener energy consumption, were never sold on the first Nord Stream, let alone its sequel.
But when both were damaged by sabotage in September 2022 (by whom remains unknown), European countries, and Germany in particular, rushed to break their energy ties to Russia: today, Norway is Germany’s primary gas supplier, and, on 8 February, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania broke a power connection to Russia that dates back to the Soviet Union when they connected themselves to the EU grid.
Nothing suggests anyone is interested going back. “Independence from Russian gas is of strategic importance,” the German economy ministry insisted in its denial that Berlin was talking to Moscow about re-opening Nord Stream 2. With Europeans now looking to secure their future, it would appear that the era of Russian gas has passed.
Read MoreORLEN Group and S&P Agency Report: Closer energy ties between Poland and other states of the Baltic region could unlock cheaper and more sustainable energy
Stable supply of electricity at affordable prices, achieving full independence of the Baltic Sea region from Russian supplies, as well as clean air, thanks to joint projects for the development of new technologies, including hydrogen, are potential benefits of cooperation between the Baltic countries, according to a new report by the ORLEN Group and S&P Agency. The report assesses the progress of the energy transition in the region and identifies opportunities for collaboration to accelerate decarbonisation efforts. It outlines specific areas of cooperation and their expected outcomes, following an in-depth analysis of conditions across eight countries: Poland, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia.
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Originally published on 4 Mar
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