Valdas Lukoševičius (born in 1957) is the President of the Lithuanian District Heating Association (since 2018). He graduated the Kaunas University of Technology in 1980. Since 1990 he is an Associate professor of Kaunas University of Technology as well as during 2005-2013 associate professor of Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, Department of Building Energy. Since 2007 he started as a freelance consultant of Lithuanian and international consulting companies, associations, programmes, etc. Also participated at World Bank, INOGATE programme. Field of expertise – technology, economy and regulation of district heating and cogeneration in the countries with former plan economy. During 2002-2007 he was a Commissioner of National Commission for Energy Control and Prices. During 2012-2015 he took Chairman position at the Board of DH company “Kaunas Energy”

Abstract:

FAST PENETRATION AND WIDE USAGE OF RENEWABLE RESOURCES IN THE LITHUANIAN DISTRICT HEATING SECTOR

Rapid replacement of imported natural gas (about 70 %) with local renewable resources, mainly biomass, in the Lithuanian district heating sector will be presented. This made a great benefit to the Lithuanian economy. Regulatory incentives and EU structural funds support for biofuel penetration in the Lithuanian DH sector are considered one of the best examples of the use of EU financial support. The replacement has significantly reduced CO2 emissions and made a positive contribution to the implementation of the national environmental goals and the obligations specified in the Kyoto Protocol.

In order to maximise the use of District heating (DH) potential in Lithuania’s energy sector, there are two high performance CHP plants under construction in Vilnius and Kaunas. In Vilnius, a biofuel-fired cogeneration power plant is under construction together with a waste incineration unit. With a total power generation capacity of 92 MW, the plant will efficiently produce 229 MW of heat, which will satisfy about 40% of the heat demand in the capital of Lithuania.

Competition among heat producers is organised on the basis of monthly heat sale auctions. There are a national fuel and energy exchange, where all heat producers (DH companies and Independent Heat Suppliers) are required to buy fuel and sell heat in separate municipalities. BALTPOOL as the operator of the Lithuanian Energy Exchange is extending its activities to other countries. More details will be presented.