Perking up of the economic environment increased significantly the energy production

After the interim decline period, in 2010 electricity production regained the level of 2007. The growth in electricity production was first and foremost facilitated by the opening of electricity market and upturn in the inland economy. As more than 90% of electricity is oil shale based, the increasing demand for electric energy led to a 20% increase in oil shale production.

Compared to 2009, electricity production of renewable sources increased about two times, mainly influenced by the new combined heat and power plants which consumed wood fuel. Although the proportion of wind and hydro energy is still relatively small in gross electricity generation (less than 3% of electricity output), a considerable development took place in this sphere in 2010. In 2010 compared to 2009, the production of wind energy increased by more than 40%. Generation of hydro energy has been stable during the last three years.

In 2010 compared to the previous year, the shale oil production grew by nearly 8% due to an increased consumption by local heating plants. Over a half of produced shale oil was exported. The production of wood pellets was 7% bigger than in 2009 due to a stable external demand, and the production of peat grew by more than 10%.

In 2010, imports of energy products included natural gas, liquid fuels, coal and coke. In connection with a growth in the fuel consumption by power plants and households, imports of natural gas increased by about 7% compared to the previous year. At the same time, imports of liquid fuels decreased by about 5%. The decrease was influenced by the reserves of motor fuel stored as at the end of 2009 and by a slight decline in the consumption of motor gasoline.

Total exports of all energy products increased over a fifth in 2010. Exports of electricity grew by nearly 50%, accounting for over a third of the total exports. The largest share or 38% of exported electricity was sold to Finland and more than a third to Lithuania. The wood pellets accounted for nearly a sixth of the amount of total exports. Exports of wood pellets increased 12% during the year and were sold mainly to Denmark and Sweden. Exports of peat products increased significantly and were sold mainly to Sweden and Finland. Exports of shale oil remained on the level of 2009.

Production of electricity from renewable sources, 2002–2010