The European Union sets targets for the extensive use of renewable energy. Meanwhile, the energy production network is changing and transferring from the classic “producer to consumer” scheme to new operation models, where a small consumer with local renewable energy systems becomes a producer–prosumer, an active energy consumer who is also an energy producer. This study evaluated a potential of Latvian households’ participation in the energy market as prosumers. The analysis was based on an informal prospective extrapolation data evaluation method, based on real historical data from the Central Statistical Bureau of Latvia, annual reports of distribution and transmission system operators, assessments, and the conclusions of relevant experts. In addition, the real performance of a photovoltaic (PV) system was evaluated to get information on the whole year’s energy balance, and to compare it with seasonal electricity price fluctuation. The Latvian electricity transmission system is able to accept about 800 MW of additional new renewable energy source (RES) capacity, so there is a great potential for prosumers. The biggest obstacle for a household’s involvement in the energy market is the lack of support mechanisms and relatively high cost of RES technologies. The results show that with the current dynamics of new microgenerator connections, Latvia will achieve the set goals regarding the involvement of prosumers in the achievement of RES goals only in the next century. In order to attract the public to energy production, the concept of energy community needs to be defined in Latvian legislation, a balanced peer trading mechanism needs to be developed for various RES self-consumption groups willing to sell surplus electricity, and tax policy conditions need to be reviewed for electricity transactions outside the NET (payment system), in order to fully ensure the rights of prosumers.
The national priority axis is increase of renewables (RES) use in Latvian Energy sector; therefore, new solutions for Electricity, Heat and Cold production are sought for. Solar energy is available at the same time when there is need to cool rooms, so Solar Cooling systems are suitable also for Latvian conditions. In Latvia such systems are not used yet, so it is important to assess the potential of these systems. The sunlight duration and intensity depends on the season, weather conditions and geographical position of a country. As compared with the annual global solar radiation incident on horizontal surfaces in sunny regions (2200 kWh/m 2 ), in the northern Europe is half as much (1100 kWh/m 2 ). The solar energy potential defined for Latvia as technically achievable by 2020 is: for electricity 0.01 TWh and for heat 0.04 TWh. As shown by experimental studies, the application of solar collectors in Latvia can give good results. The energy of solar radiation can be employed for 1700-1900 hours annually. Due to a gradual increase in the comfort level, the demand for space cooling will grow in the near future. Solar cooling can be an alternative for electrically-powered compression-type chillers that currently are the most common in the Baltic States. The solar cooling system installed in the Institute of Physical Energetic is the first of the type in EU which is built at the latitudes higher than 55 degrees of north. Taking into account the fact that there were no systems plants of this type at so "cold" latitudes, first of all the models in PolySun were to be validated, and a dynamic simulation program containing the five-years meteorological data was to be developed. The solar cooling system has been optimized using multiple simulations. The influence of the system's different elements on its operation is evaluated. The optimal model developed for the given climatic conditions is described.
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