Analysis of energy transition possibilities after the decommission of a nuclear power plant in Ignalina region in Lithuania

The article describes the Lithuanian energy policy, energy and economical problems before and after the decommissioning of Ignalina nuclear power plant (INPP). After the decommission of INPP, the dominant kind of primary energy in the region became a imported natural gas which amounted to 74.8%, wood and waste provided 22%, and imported heavy fuel oil brought 3.2% of the primary energy. In the article the generation possibilities of electricity and heat from the renewable energy sources (RES) in INPP region are shown, technical and economically-based potentials of solar heat and solar electricity are evaluated, technical potential of wind power plants is disclosed, the potential of wood fuel use is predicted, theoretical possibilities of shallow geothermal energy use are revealed. The calculated total technical potential of RES usage in the region is around 30.1 thousand tonnes of oil equivalent (toe), from which wood fuel amounts to 14.7, wind power—11.3, solar heat and photo electricity—3.3, and hydro energy—0.8 thousand toe. INPP region consists of Ignalina and Zarasai district municipalities and Visaginas town municipality. In Zarasai and Ignalina districts, RES potential is 11.5 and 11.3 thousand toe, respectively, and Visaginas town potential is around 7.3 thousand toe. The measures to be taken to achieve the set objectives in Lithuanian INPP region are analyzed in this article.