The costs of the construction project for the new woodchip boiler house exceed EUR 20 million, of which 4 million are co-financed by the European Structural Funds. Construction work is due to be completed by the end of 2023, but adjustment and launch are scheduled for the start of the new year so that the heat generated in the new boiler is used to heat the dwellings of the Daugavpils as early as the 2023/2024 heating season.
Aleksandrs Karpenko, Member of the board of directors of the local government company “Daugavpils Thermal Networks”, told LSM that construction of the new chip boiler house is very important for the company. First, it will give more scope for fuel variability.
“Daugavpils is a large city, and its consumption of thermal energy is also high. Therefore, the possibility of changing the type of heating fuel used to produce thermal energy depending on its price is very important as it opens up more room for maneuver,“ said Karpenko.
This will be the second powerful chip boiler house built in recent years in Daugavpils. It will use slightly different technology and equipment from another manufacturer. Consequently, it will be possible to compare the equipment and technologies of the two producers and draw conclusions.
Andrejs Elksniņš, Mayor of Daugavpils, said the construction of the new boiler house will allow the city to strengthen energy security and to differentiate access to thermal energy production by choosing the energy source that is cheaper at the relevant time.
“Currently, Daugavpils, where there was a risk of the heating tariff of EUR 350 per megawatt hour in the previous heating season, has done a lot of homework, reducing the heat tariff from EUR 350 to EUR 81.13 per megawatt hour. The latest tariff reduction plans were announced by Daugavpils heating company last weekend,” Elksniņš said.
