Lithuania’s largest solar park recently opened in the Molėtai area, the Ministry of Energy has announced. The 100 MW facility is now the country’s largest operational solar project and is expected to supply electricity to approximately 28,000 homes annually.
150,000 Photovoltaic Modules on a 150-Hectare Site
The 150-hectare project, developed by the Danish company Nordic Solar, features 150,000 photovoltaic modules capable of generating 100 MW of electricity, reports PV news.
Image: Collected
The park’s strategic location on Molėtai’s hilly terrain allows it to capture sunlight from various angles throughout the day. It also utilizes double-sided solar panels developed by Nordic Solar, which generate electricity from both sides.
The facility was connected to the power grid in April in collaboration with Litgrid, Lithuania’s electricity transmission system operator, aligning the project with the goals of the National Energy Independence Strategy.
Daiva Garbaliauskaitė, Lithuania’s Deputy Minister of Energy, emphasized the country’s commitment to ambitious goals aimed at boosting national electricity generation for complete energy independence.
“To achieve total energy independence, Lithuania has set lofty energy targets, including raising the country’s power output. We are making every effort to establish a high-value, sustainable energy sector as we work toward this goal,” she remarked.
Solar Project Development Advances in the Baltics Despite Land Scarcity
Despite land scarcity, the Baltic countries of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania are seeing rapid development of solar PV projects, making the region increasingly appealing to developers. Last year, a Lithuanian renewables developer allocated €179 million (US$192 million) to construct nearly 200 MW of solar PV in the Baltics. In August 2023, European Energy also announced plans to establish a 65 MW PV farm in the municipality of Anyksciai, Lithuania.
This national strategy aims for a total installed solar power capacity of 4.1 gigawatts (GW) by 2030, part of the ultimate goal to source all electricity from local renewable energy sources. Projections show further expansion, with installed solar power expected to reach 9 GW by 2050.
Lithuania Raised its Solar Capacity Goal From 0.8 GW to 5.1 GW by 2030
Nordic Solar operates solar parks across nine European nations with a combined production capacity of approximately 390 megawatts peak (MWp). CEO Nikolaj Holtet Hoff described Lithuania as a strategic market, noting that its EU and Eurozone status aligns with the growing demand for renewable energy and efforts to bolster local energy resilience.
Hoff expressed enthusiasm for contributing to Lithuania’s renewable energy transition, highlighting the significant potential of solar energy in the region. This project comes as Lithuania garners broader attention from investors; for instance, its life sciences industry—particularly in biotech and medtech—saw Invest Lithuania secure 57 investment projects totaling €134.5 million ($147 million) in the past year.
“Lithuania is an important market for us to enter as it is an EU and Euro country, and we see beneficial synergy between the demand for more renewable energy, the focus on strengthening the local energy supply, and our approach,” said Hoff. “We are thrilled to be a part of Lithuania’s local shift to renewable energy, as solar power can have a significant impact here.”
To date, Lithuania has installed 1.3 GW of solar PV capacity, according to the Ministry of Energy. Under its revised National Energy and Climate Plan (NECP), the nation has increased its 2030 installation goal sixfold, from 0.8 GW to 5.1 GW.
