Latvia's Central Statistical Bureau has released provisional data highlighting significant developments in the country's energy sector for 2023. Gross energy consumption totaled 185 petajoules, marking a slight 1% decrease compared to 2022 figures. This decline reflects ongoing efforts towards energy efficiency and the adoption of renewable sources.
Renewable energy sources, including hydropower, wind power, and solar power plants, played a pivotal role in Latvia's energy mix, generating 4,304 gigawatt-hours of electricity in 2023. This represents a substantial 44.3% increase (1,323 GWh) from 2022. Solar power saw the most significant growth, increasing by 4.8 times (198 GWh), followed by wind power with a 42.5% rise (81 GWh), and hydropower with a 38% increase (1,044 GWh) due to favorable weather conditions.
Latvia's progress in renewable energy aligns with its National Energy and Climate Plan for 2021–2030, aiming to achieve 44.3% renewable energy in gross final energy consumption by 2025. In 2023, renewables accounted for 43.5% of the energy mix, underscoring Latvia's leadership among EU countries, where the average was 23% in 2022.
Over the past decade, Latvia has also made significant strides in reducing natural gas consumption, which decreased by 38.5% (17.5 PJ). This decline contributed to a 9.3 percentage point decrease in natural gas's share of the energy mix. In 2023 alone, natural gas consumption fell by 3.9%, representing a 10.5% share of total energy consumption.
Final energy consumption in 2023 totaled 170 PJ, marking a 0.9% decrease from 2022. The transport sector remained the largest consumer with 52 PJ (30.6% of total consumption), followed by households with 45 PJ (26.4%) and industry with 42 PJ (24.7%). Despite overall stability, households reduced their energy consumption, while transport and industry sectors saw increases.
Looking ahead, Latvia continues to prioritize sustainable energy policies and investments in renewable infrastructure to further reduce dependency on fossil fuels and meet ambitious climate targets. The country's strategic focus on renewable energy expansion and energy efficiency underscores its commitment to a greener and more resilient energy future.
