As of 2023, Lithuania’s installed solar capacity was 1.165 GW. ¹² By early 2024, residential prosumers alone contributed over 800 MW. ¹³

Lithuania aims for at least 4.1 GW of installed solar capacity by 2030. Long-term goals extend to 9 GW by 2050. ⁵⁷

Estimates for utility-scale solar PV are around $0.055/kWh (based on a 2018 global average). ¹⁴

The precise cost of wind sources is not readily available; however, feed-in tariffs for wind power in Lithuania (in 2018 for installations under 10 kW) were $0.064/kWh. ¹⁵

Natural gas-based electricity costs around $0.10-$0.11 per kWh, subject to market fluctuations. ¹⁶

Lithuania’s electricity generation mix reflects its ongoing energy transition:

• Wind: 22% ¹⁷
• Hydropower: 12% ¹⁷
• Solar: 9% ¹⁷
• Fossil Fuels (primarily gas): Slightly over 6% ¹⁷
• Net Imports: 44% ¹⁷

Generally close to 24 hours. However, this can fluctuate due to weather events and grid capacity limitations. Investments in battery storage systems are improving grid resilience and reducing the duration and frequency of outages. ¹⁸

As of early 2024, over 61,000 households were prosumers. A prosumer is an individual or entity that both produces and consumes energy, typically through renewable sources like solar panels, and is connected to the national grid for both supplying excess energy and drawing electricity as needed. ¹³

Installed: Lithuania has numerous solar panel farms, encompassing large and small-scale power plants and private installations. Three notable examples are the Molėtai solar park, Anyksciai solar park, and the Taurage Solar Farm.¹⁹

Projected: One notable large-scale project under development is the Jonava solar park. ²⁰

Current: Lithuania’s off-grid solar market is small, mainly due to the reliable national grid and the rise of “prosumers” (people who both generate and use electricity, often with rooftop solar). Since prosumers are usually grid-connected and use net metering, there’s less need for fully off-grid systems. ¹³  Off-grid setups also face higher initial costs, battery storage requirements, and permitting challenges. ²¹

Projected: Growth in the off-grid sector is anticipated, driven by government support for residential solar, including subsidies for both on- and off-grid systems up to 10 kW (financed by the EU structural fund), ²²  and initiatives like “Solar Community” ²³ and plug-in PV systems. ²⁴

Current: Lithuania’s on-grid solar market is experiencing rapid expansion. As of August 2024, 1,707 MW of solar power plants were connected to the grids (212 MW to the transmission grid and 1,495 MW to the distribution grid). ²⁵ The number of prosumers (those generating and consuming their own electricity while connected to the grid) exceeded 61,000 in early 2024. ¹³

Projected: Continued strong growth is anticipated, fueled by ambitious government targets for increased solar capacity. The promotion of “prosumers” is expected to be a major driver of this growth. ¹³ Furthermore, large-scale projects, such as the Jonava solar park, will also contribute significantly to expanding Lithuania’s on-grid solar capacity. ²⁰

Average monthly salaries (before taxes) for solar sector jobs in Lithuania range from $550 (e.g., Nord Solar Lietuva) ²⁶ to $3900 (e.g., Detra Solar). ²⁷

Specialized roles, such as software engineers at companies serving the solar industry (e.g., PVcase), can earn significantly more and up to $7100.²⁸

The national minimum wage is $1000 per month. ²⁹

Approximately 2.85 million (September 2024). ³⁰

A breakdown of potential overhead costs would include:

Labor Costs:

Manufacturing sector salaries typically range from $1,300 to $2,200 monthly. Regional variations exist, with Kaunas ($2,000 to $3,300) having higher average salaries than rural areas ($1,110 to $1,650). ³¹

Utilities:

• Electricity: Electricity prices for non-household consumers consumers vary based on consumption levels, with higher prices ($0.278/kWh in 2022) for users consuming between 500 and 2,000 MWh annually, and lower prices ($0.237/kWh in 2022) for those exceeding 20,000 MWh annually. ³²
• Water: Wastewater management for businesses costs approximately $2.30/m³, plus monthly subscription fees. ³³

Facility Costs:

Costs vary significantly by facility type. For example, high-quality office space is $10-$13/m²/month, ³⁴ while warehouse space can be around $5.5/m²/month. ³⁵

Offices within warehouses are slightly more, around $7/m²/month. Property taxes and maintenance are additional costs. ³⁶

Lithuania’s energy infrastructure is comprised of a well-developed electricity transmission network managed primarily by public operators. Key aspects include:

Transmission Network (Litgrid): Litgrid operates approximately 7,048 kilometers of high-voltage transmission lines (110 kV, 330 kV, and 400 kV), including about 400 kilometers of undersea cables connecting to neighboring countries. ³⁷

Distribution Network (ESO): ESO, the main distribution system operator, serves approximately 1.6 million customers across Lithuania. It manages roughly 130,000 kilometers of electricity lines (71% overhead, 29% underground cables). ESO also operates natural gas distribution pipelines. ³⁷

Pumped Storage Hydropower Plant (PSHP): The Kruonis PSHP is a key power reserve, helping balance electricity supply and demand and ensuring grid stability, especially during peak times. ³⁷

Interconnections: Lithuania has strong electricity connections with its neighbors, exceeding EU targets. Links exist with Belarus, Sweden (via NordBalt), Latvia, Russia/Kaliningrad, and Poland (via LitPol Link). The Harmony Link project will further boost the Poland connection by 700 MW by 2025, reaching 111% interconnectivity by 2030. ³⁷

Electricity Imports: A considerable portion of Lithuania’s electricity needs is met through imports, primarily from Sweden. ³⁸

Lithuania has established a regulatory framework to encourage the development and use of solar energy. Key regulations and initiatives include:

• Law on Energy from Renewable Sources: This law establishes the rules and targets for renewable energy in Lithuania, including solar, and promotes its integration into the national grid. ³⁹
• Permitting Process for Electricity Generation: VERT (National Energy Regulatory Council) issues electricity generation permits to both individuals and businesses in Lithuania. ⁴⁰
• Simplified Grid Connection Procedures: Connecting smaller renewable energy systems (under 30 kW) to the grid in Lithuania is now easier and faster, reducing paperwork and delays. ⁴¹
• The Breakthrough Package: These energy law amendments, passed by the Lithuanian Parliament, simplify renewable energy development. For solar projects, it removes the need for much of the previous paperwork (like land-use permits and environmental assessments), speeding up deployment. ⁴²

Lithuania actively promotes solar energy through a range of initiatives:

• Subsidies: Direct financial support for residential and business solar installations. Past examples include one-time compensation schemes per installed kW. ¹³
• Soft Loans: Low-interest financing options for businesses to acquire solar power plants, making the initial investment more manageable. ⁴³
• Net Metering Program: This program enables households and businesses to sell excess solar energy back to the grid, incentivizing the installation of solar PV systems. ⁴⁴
• Virtual Net Billing: This program lets people buy into off-site solar farms, benefiting from solar power even without space for their own panels. ¹³
• Online Platform (“Solar Community”): This platform makes it easier for consumers to access solar energy, including buying or renting parts of solar farms. ²³
• One Stop Shops: These dedicated services provide simplified access to information and assistance for individuals and businesses seeking to engage in renewable energy projects. ⁴⁵
• Support Schemes for Consumers: The government offers financial incentives, like rebates and one-time payments based on installed capacity, to make home solar more affordable. For example, $43.6 million was allocated in 2022 for residential solar rebates. ⁴⁶

Installed:

• Švenčionys Solar Park: Location: Švenčionys (approximately 80 km north of Vilnius); Capacity: 80 MW; Status: Under construction by Nordic Solar, providing enough energy for roughly 26,000 households. ⁴⁷
• Tauragė Solar Plant: Location: Tauragė District; Capacity: 22 MW; Status: Under construction, with commercial operation expected in 2024. This is Lithuania’s first hybrid wind and solar park, developed by Ignitis Renewables, and will power approximately 13,000 homes. ⁴⁸

Planned:

• Jonava Solar Park: Location: Jonava; Capacity: 252 MW; Status: Under development by Ignitis Renewables, with grid connection secured. Construction is planned to begin and electricity generation is expected to start by 2025. ²⁰
• Kaišiadorys Solar Park: Location: Kaišiadorys; Capacity: 40 MW; Status: Planned, aiming to be the largest solar park for prosumers in Lithuania, will cover an area of almost 50 hectares ⁴⁹

• SoliTek (Founded 2009): A top Lithuanian maker of high-efficiency solar panels, specializing in glass-glass and solar roof systems for homes and businesses across Europe. ⁵⁰
• Sun Investment Group (SIG) (Founded 2017): One of the largest investors and developers of solar energy projects in the Baltics. They focus on developing, managing, and operating solar farms, concentrating on utility-scale projects and PV investments across the region. ⁵¹
• Green Genius (Founded 2018): A renewable energy company (under Modus Group) developing solar power plants and energy storage solutions across Europe, with a notable presence in Lithuania. They are involved in all stages of project development. ⁵²
• Via Solis (Founded 2009): Manufactures solar modules and develops commercial and industrial solar projects across Europe. Their focus is on energy efficiency and sustainability. They also produce PV glass components. ⁵³
• Saulės Grąža (Founded 2012): A major Lithuanian solar energy company specializing in design and installation of solar power systems for homes, businesses, and factories. They offer complete, energy-efficient solutions. ⁵⁴
• E energija (Founded 1994): A well-established renewable energy company in Lithuania. They develop, finance, and construct green-field renewable energy projects, including solar and wind power facilities. Their activities are extensive in the region. ⁵⁵
• EnergijaMan (Founded 2019): Primarily focuses on the installation of solar power systems for private homes, businesses, and industrial applications. They provide a full range of services, from consultation and system design to installation and ongoing maintenance. ⁵⁶
• Solet Technics (Founded 2011): A Lithuanian solar energy company offering a full range of services, from design and manufacturing to installation and maintenance of solar power systems. https://lt.linkedin.com/company/solet-technics ⁵⁸