<p><strong>Abstract.</strong> Latvia currently is self-sufficient in energy resources up to approximately 35<span class="thinspace"></span>%. Annual fossil energy prices rise and risks of security of energy supply promote the development legislation in the matter of renewable resources. One of the Latvian Ministry of Economics' recent products is a new draft law called the "Renewable Energy Law", which has been created due to one of the European Union and Latvian national energy policy objectives: to increase the share of renewable energy up to 40<span class="thinspace"></span>% by 2020 (Moore and Vanags, 2012). Currently, geothermal energy potential is assessed at 1 × 1013<span class="thinspace"></span>kWh; nevertheless, it is difficult for geothermal energy to compete with other renewable energy resources in the Latvian energy market. A great job has been done in recent years at the legislative branch to choose the right methods for supporting the use of renewable energy resources. This paper aims is analysis of current situation and assessment of Latvian legislation possibilities to promote the use of geothermal energy.</p>
Since 2010 in Latvia energy efficiency improvement measures in residential buildings have been actively implemented with an aim to reduce heat energy consumption and heating costs in houses. The aim of the study is to find optimal solutions for reducing energy consumption and increasing energy efficiency indicators of heating and domestic hot water systems. In the framework of the study heat consumption analysis of the domestic hot water supply systems in residential buildings was carried out. The results showed that heat energy savings and home energy efficiency theoretically and optimistically predicted by the renovation project after three years of operation of renovated houses were not reached. It was concluded after a thorough analysis that the external enclosing construction insulation reached predicted energy savings. Energy efficiency of the heat supply system was low, thermal energy consumption was higher than expected. Central heating systems are hydraulically unstable because heat in apartments is regulated emotionally, exceeding the regulated operating mode. The domestic hot water supply systems low energy efficiency causes relatively large thermal energy losses in hot water distribution and in circulation pipelines. The project was implemented in 2014; after three heating seasons of operation data monitoring, fixation of project deficiency and correction of solutions were carried out. According to the operation data monitoring, this innovative system is the most functional and energy efficient, corresponding to installed requirements of the project. After the assembly was completed the system was tuned to work in calculation mode and put into operation. During operation while heat consumption regime is changing, the functional efficiency does not change. Apartment heating system heat output is automatically regulated according to the room temperature. Preparation of hot water is provided in every apartment`s boiler capacity (in local space heaters) with the combined heating system heat transmission at 70 ° C temperature. It provides hot water heating to 60°C close to the final user and prevents the growth of microorganisms in hot water distribution system pipelines of the end user.
The main goal of Latvian energy policy is to ensure safe and environmentally friendly long-term energy supply at cost-effective prices, contributing to enhance competitiveness, and to ensure safe energy transit. The Latvian Parliament approved an Energy Efficiency Strategy in 2000. Its objective is to decrease energy consumption per unit of GDP by 25% by 2010. Awareness raising, implementation of standards and economic incentives for self financing are the main instruments to increase energy efficiency, mentioned in the strategy. Latvia, as many other European Union member states, is dependent on the import of primary energy resources. The Latvian Renewable Energy strategy is still under development. The only recent study on RES was developed in the framework of a PHARE program in year 2000: ''Renewable energy resource program", where three main objectives for a future RES strategy were proposed: 1. To increase the use of wood waste and low value wood and forest residues. 2. To improve efficiency of combustion technologies and to replace outdated plants. 3. To increase the use of renewables in Combined Heat and Power plants (CHP). Through the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership, partners will develop a set of new shared activities, and coordinate and strengthen existing efforts in this area.
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