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January
10
MIXED SOLAR POWER SYSTEM IS STILL A NOVELTY IN LITHUANIA
UAB ASAJA, a successful wood processing company since 1999, together with the Lithuanian Business Support Agency (LBSA), has successfully implemented two projects under the Operational Programme for EU Funds’ Investments for 2014–2020.
The main activity of the company is wood processing. The company is successfully developing and focusing on new activities, and is constantly increasing production and expanding the range of products. Part of the production is sold in Lithuania, but most of it is exported to Finland and other countries.
The company’s electricity consumption is steadily increasing with the increase in production volumes. To reduce production costs and increase the competitiveness of its products, the company has invested in renewable energy sources, which will significantly reduce the energy consumption costs.
An energy consumption audit of UAB ASAJA was performed during the implementation of the first project – ‘Identification of Energy Consumption Reduction Opportunities for UAB ASAJA’, where energy consumption volumes, cost indicators and organisational and technical measures were identified to help use energy efficiently and reduce the company’s energy costs.
During the implementation of the second project – ‘Installation of RES-using energy generation capacities in UAB ASAJA’ – a 200 kW solar panel system was installed. The project, implemented under the measure ‘Renewable Energy Resources for Industry LT+’ of the Priority Axis 4 ‘Promoting Energy Efficiency and Production and Use of Renewable Energy’ under the Operational Programme for EU Funds’ Investment’, has been granted EUR 113,879.99 in funding from the European Regional Development Fund.
‘Businesses are increasingly involved in the implementation of the ‘circular’ system. This is not only the production of energy, but also its storage and the production of green fuels. Developers of alternative energy sources are creating systems that cover the whole cycle – not only solar energy, but also other types of alternative energy production, such as wind farms and heat pump systems. Smart electricity distribution to consumers is already being introduced and car charging stations, geothermal heating systems, and heat and electricity storage facilities are being installed. We see the future by producing energy in a systemic multi-component model – sun-wind-air-water-earth’, says Gintarė Kucaitytė, Head of Business Sustainability Projects Division of the LBSA.
‘A hybrid solar panel system has been installed at the company, with part of the reflectors installed on the roof of the facility and others on mobile systems following the path of the sun, which is not yet common in Lithuania. Of course, it is not cheap and requires additional investment, so support from the EU Structural Funds helps to offset part of the project’s costs. In Europe, such systems are no longer a novelty. Yes, they increase the capacity of solar power plants, but both their maintenance and costs are significantly higher. This example will encourage other economic entities in the country to evaluate the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of the system’, says Algirdas Vaidotas, Head of Project Risk Prevention Centre of the LBSA.
‘Unfortunately, in Lithuania we can’t enjoy frequent sunshine, so we decided to invest in a more advanced hybrid solar panel system, which the new facility operates. However, it is too early to talk about its performance and results. There hasn’t been much sunshine yet, and we will be able to speak more about the results when we open the next year’s calendar after a full year’s cycle. We hope that the investment will pay off and we will be able to generate 35.5% of the company's annual energy consumption’, says Giedrius Malinauskas, Commercial Director of UAB ASAJA.
The main activity of the company is wood processing. The company is successfully developing and focusing on new activities, and is constantly increasing production and expanding the range of products. Part of the production is sold in Lithuania, but most of it is exported to Finland and other countries.
The company’s electricity consumption is steadily increasing with the increase in production volumes. To reduce production costs and increase the competitiveness of its products, the company has invested in renewable energy sources, which will significantly reduce the energy consumption costs.
An energy consumption audit of UAB ASAJA was performed during the implementation of the first project – ‘Identification of Energy Consumption Reduction Opportunities for UAB ASAJA’, where energy consumption volumes, cost indicators and organisational and technical measures were identified to help use energy efficiently and reduce the company’s energy costs.
During the implementation of the second project – ‘Installation of RES-using energy generation capacities in UAB ASAJA’ – a 200 kW solar panel system was installed. The project, implemented under the measure ‘Renewable Energy Resources for Industry LT+’ of the Priority Axis 4 ‘Promoting Energy Efficiency and Production and Use of Renewable Energy’ under the Operational Programme for EU Funds’ Investment’, has been granted EUR 113,879.99 in funding from the European Regional Development Fund.
‘Businesses are increasingly involved in the implementation of the ‘circular’ system. This is not only the production of energy, but also its storage and the production of green fuels. Developers of alternative energy sources are creating systems that cover the whole cycle – not only solar energy, but also other types of alternative energy production, such as wind farms and heat pump systems. Smart electricity distribution to consumers is already being introduced and car charging stations, geothermal heating systems, and heat and electricity storage facilities are being installed. We see the future by producing energy in a systemic multi-component model – sun-wind-air-water-earth’, says Gintarė Kucaitytė, Head of Business Sustainability Projects Division of the LBSA.
‘A hybrid solar panel system has been installed at the company, with part of the reflectors installed on the roof of the facility and others on mobile systems following the path of the sun, which is not yet common in Lithuania. Of course, it is not cheap and requires additional investment, so support from the EU Structural Funds helps to offset part of the project’s costs. In Europe, such systems are no longer a novelty. Yes, they increase the capacity of solar power plants, but both their maintenance and costs are significantly higher. This example will encourage other economic entities in the country to evaluate the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of the system’, says Algirdas Vaidotas, Head of Project Risk Prevention Centre of the LBSA.
‘Unfortunately, in Lithuania we can’t enjoy frequent sunshine, so we decided to invest in a more advanced hybrid solar panel system, which the new facility operates. However, it is too early to talk about its performance and results. There hasn’t been much sunshine yet, and we will be able to speak more about the results when we open the next year’s calendar after a full year’s cycle. We hope that the investment will pay off and we will be able to generate 35.5% of the company's annual energy consumption’, says Giedrius Malinauskas, Commercial Director of UAB ASAJA.
