Illustration of the implementation of Wood-energy projects in Latvia

1. Illustration of the implementation of Wood-energy projects in Latvia Ilze Strēle State projects agency “Environmental projects” Vilnius 12/13 September, 2005

2. “Environmental projects”Project Management Organization of Environmental and RuralDevelopment • Main task - to supervise and manage the implementation of different environmental investment and protection projects • Particulary developed experience in implementation of bioenergy projects

3. Bioenergy Projects • Economic and Cost-effective Use of Wood Waste for Municipal Heating Systems in Latvia • Baltic Biomass Network • Promoting the Adoption of Renewable Energy by Removing Barriers and Reducing Implementation Costs

4. Economic and Cost-effective Use of Wood Waste for Municipal Heating Systems in Latvia • Establishment and development of financially and environmentally sustainable energy companies throughout Latvia to reduce CO2 emissions; • Support conditions necessary for strenghtening the instotutional framework to secure sustainability of biomass usein municipal heating systems

5. Main objectives Financially and environmentally sustainable energy companies throughout Latvia Institutional framework to secure sustainable biomass use in municipal heating systems

6. Main activities Sustainable energy companies Heat meter system and and local heating points improved Billing system designed to recapture full cost investments introduced Supported Energy departments in several municipalities Creation of support mechanisms for low –income population Public awareness and promotion campaign conducted

7. Main activities Sustainable Biomass Use Pre-conditions for implementation of National strategy for district heating systems created involving biomass combustion and other renewable sources Capacity of biomass projects enhanced Establishment of institutional/financial set-up for project implementation

8. Follow–up actions • Conduct an analysis of the viability of wood waste as well as other renewable energy sources in Latvia • Encourage the Latvian Environmental Investment Fund and municipalities to pilot and promote innovative financial schemes to dissaminate municipal wood waste heating systems and encourage residental energy efficiecy upgrades • Foster a public awareness campaign with a focus on end-users and energy efficiency • Develop a programme directed at municipalities advocating the use of other renwable energies where appropriate

9. Follow–up actions • Promote more efficient energy production capacities • Provide continious technical support will be required by municipal energy departments to facilitate the sustainable use of wood in heat production • Adapt a long-term training program concerning the management and technical issues of municipal heating systems • Maintain a recently constructed database of wood suppliers and wood consumers • Conduct an updated cost-benefit analysis of the use of wood biomass to promote the effective transformation of Latvian energy sector

10. Follow–up project • Proposed project idea is removal of barriers and reduction of implementation costs in the adoption of renewable energy

11. Baltic Biomass NetworkINTERREG IIIB PROJECT • Working at a regional, spatial planning level with local authorities, biomass producers and bio-energy investors in drawing up optimal GIS supported biomass production shemes for mobilising biomass resources and planning sustainable bio-energy investment projects; • Regional bio-energy development scenarios considering local and international market chances, new technologies and biomass product lines. Promoting Bio-energy Development with Spatial planning Solutions

12. Network Aims Visualising Energy landscapes • Visualisation the feasibility and impact of regional bio - energy development; • GIS based analyses portray suitable areas for energy crop production, solid fuel recovery and plant location; • Integration of bio-energy GIS informational layers into regional spatial planning data banks.

13. Network Aims Providing Tools for Regional Development Strategies • Support farmers and forest operators in evaluating the risks and chances in reorienting production schemes for bio-energy systems; • Development authorities are provided with instruments for identifying areas appropriate for plant locations, fuel switch projects, energy cropping, and untapped resource explotation.

14. Network Aims • Regional networks involving planning authorities, investors and operators of bio-energy plants, biomass producers and economic development authorities; • Evaluation of regional models of land and resource use issues based on BBN GIS scenarious. Promoting Bio-energy Awareness among Decision makers

15. Participating regions Bio-energy Development planning for Decision makers in 6 model regions • Active in six model regions providing local planning authorities, investors, farmers, forest operators, and regional development agencies with reliable evaluations of regional biomass potential, quantity, quality and price for making investment decisions.

16. Thank you! State Ltd. “Environmental projects” e-mail:info@videsprojekti.lv www.videsprojekti.lv