Spring favorable for hydropower production in Latvia

Take note – story published 1 year ago

This year, Latvia's rivers have experienced the largest floods in the last ten years, which has allowed the Daugava hydroelectric power plant (HES) to produce a large amount of electricity, the operational information of the transmission company Augstsprieguma tīkls shows, according to weatherman Toms Bricis.

The large amount of water in the rivers was caused by rainfall in the winter months. Between December and February, on average, the national rainfall rate exceeded the climate norm by 24%.

As reported, floods are still ahead, and the Daugava could see the highest water levels in the second half of April. 

The large amount of water in Daugava has allowed good production of electricity in the Daugava HES. According to the data of Augstsprieguma tīkls, during the first months of this year, there were only a few days when Latvia had to import energy. It was mostly exported.

Last year the Daugava HES cascade produced 2.6 million megawatt hours of electricity. In the first three months of this year, even half of the total volume produced last year could have been produced, according to preliminary data.

According to the forecasts of the Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Centre (LVGMC), the water flow rate in Daugava will remain above 2000 cubic meters per second at least until April 10, which is considered to be high. In January, February, and the first half of March, that figure was mostly 600-1600 cubic meters per second. In the floods of 2013, the figure was up to 4000 cubic meters per second, and then the water supply exceeded the capacity of the Pļaviņu HES, so water had to be allowed to flow without producing electricity.

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