Implementation of EC Directives

Implementation of EC Directives

Country

Lithuania

Monitoring of, & Input to National Renewable Energy Action Plans

The Government at December 15, 2009 have announced draft National Renewable Energy Action Plan. Lithuanian District Heating Association actively started to analyze and prepare suggestions of DH input to National RES target. The largest potential of RES suitable for use in DHC systems is biomass (wood, agriculture wastes, biogas, biodegradable part of municipal waste). Energy Ministry have initiated study for refining of existing RES potential and use possibilities at local (municipal) level. The idea is set renewable energy plans for municipalities in line with sustainable planning of relevant infrastructure of production and creating logistic infrastructure for biofuel use. LDHA from its side took responsibility to refine possibilities and prepare recommendations for biomass based heat production and cogeneration in DHC systems with regard to existing and commercially available solid biomass fuel, biogas and part of municipal waste intended for energy recovery.

At present, the draft plan is reviewed by interested institutions and involved organizations such as Biofuel Association, Biogas Association, Association of Municipalities, etc.

Proposed Implementing Measures

The draft National Renewable Energy Plan include following general tasks:

- To pursue effective energy policy by adjusting activities in different sectors and introducing renewable energy promotion in local self-governing.

- Apply support schemes which creates favourite conditions for renewable energy use, giving priority to projects

- Ensure that all administration procedures related to permissions for renewable energy use are proportional, simple and transparent.

- Develop power, heat and gas supply infrastructure, creating favourite and transparent environment for use of renewable equipment.

- Increase use of biomass for energy production

- Enlarge use of renewable energy sources and electricity in transport, ensuring that biofuel is produced in sustainable manner.

- Pursue scientific and applied research, informing and education activities in the field of renewable energy usage.

The Plan foresee the following activities related to DHC sector:

- Implementing program for diversification of towns’ heating sector, targeted to increase share of biofuel in heating to 50% of total fuel needs, reduce natural gas share from 80% to 40%.

- Approximately 75% of residential buildings in towns and cities are heated from DH networks. Further development should compromise both – DH and individual heating, exploiting benefits of both technologies.

- Total share of renewables in heating sector (including individual houses) should be increased from app. 30% in 2010 to 40% in 2020

- Capacity of biomass electricity (cogeneration) plants should be increased from 23 MW (2010) to 110 MW (2020).

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Name and reference of measure

Type of measure

Responsible organ

Existing or planned?

Construction Technical Regulation STR 2.01.09:2002 approved by the order of Minister of Environment at December 20, 2005.

Regulation

Ministry of Environment

Existing

Quotations from the measure

The Construction Law was amended at November 17, 2005 in conformity with Energy Performance of buildings Directive by introducing energy performance term, certification process description and by article 43⁽¹⁾, setting certification requirements for new and old buildings.

Minimal energy performance indicators are obligatory for all new houses built after 2007, and for reconstructed old houses larger than 1000 sq. m. when reconstruction cost is more than 25% of its value.

The Construction Law also provides list of buildings to which energy performance indicators are not defined – cultural heritage buildings, churches, temporary buildings, not heated or low temperature buildings, summerhouses, etc.

Certification of energy performance is due:

– For newly constructed, houses fro sale and renting

– For public buildings exceeding 1000 sq. m. floor area

Specific requirements for certification procedure are defined in Construction Technical Regulation STR 2.01.09:2002 approved by the order of Minister of Environment at December 20, 2005.

Persons authorised to conduct certification procedure and to issue certificate have to pass training course and have adequate skills.

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Name and reference of measure

Type of measure

Responsible organ

Existing or planned?

Cogeneration development plan, 2008

Ordinance

Ministry of Economy

Existing

Quotations from the measure

Cogeneration Directive is implemented by Public service obligations – requirement to grid operators to by-up electricity from CHP plants supplying heat to DHC systems according quotas defined by Government, and prices set by National Control Commission for Prices and energy.

National Cogeneration potential was estimated by consultants, and cogeneration development plan was drawn up to 2015 and approved by Minister of Economy in 2008.

Most cogeneration installations might be installed in existing 79 DH systems. Total estimated potential capacity exceeds 1600 MW. This mean that technically all electricity needs can be covered by CHP plants operated in DH systems.

There are many reasons for doubtfulness of this plan success. Even after closure of Ignalina NPP, CHP plants can’t produce electricity at prices competitive with imported electricity from Russia or Ukraine. Therefore electricity production in CHP plants is still under quotas and fixed feed-in tariffs, at the moment higher, than imported electricity.

Another challenge for conventional CHP using fossil fuel is wind farms which have priority as renewable energy source. Third, new targets for RES likely will correct plans for installations using fossil fuel.

Impact of Measure

Only few small-scale installations were built so far and general impact is neglible.