At a media event hosted today by the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia, it was announced that the Slovenia‑based energy company NGEN Group is entering the Latvian market with a €50 million investment.
According to information provided by investors, a deal has been concluded whereby NGEN Group has become the 100% owner of SIA “Liepāja ESS” to implement a stand-alone grid-connected battery energy storage project with a capacity of 100 MW and a storage capacity of 200 MWh in Grobiņa parish, Dienvidkurzeme region, at the Grobiņa substation. Construction work is planned to be completed this year.
“The development of such projects is a significant step in the development of Latvia’s energy infrastructure. It will be the first energy storage station in the Baltics to use Tesla technologies. This is proof to international investors that Latvia is a safe country for investments and can implement significant energy projects based on open and predictable procedures,” emphasized Minister of Economics Viktors Valainis.
The planned solution is intended as the first stand-alone battery energy storage project directly connected to the transmission system operator “Augstsprieguma tīkls”. Significantly, this project is built using the supply chains of NATO countries and their allies, including the main equipment being supplied from the USA. The project will strengthen the balancing capabilities, reliability and flexibility of the Latvian energy system, which is especially important after disconnection from the BRELL network in 2025.
Roman Bernard, CEO of NGEN group: “Latvia is an attractive market for the development of such solutions, thanks to orderly regulation and strong ambitions in the energy sector. The acquisition of Liepāja ESS is a logical next step in expanding our operations in Europe, demonstrating that storage strengthens system security and market efficiency”
The project will strengthen the balancing capabilities, reliability and flexibility of the Latvian energy system, which is especially important after disconnection from the BRELL grid in 2025.
Mike Snyder, Tesla Vice president of Energy & Charging: “Tesla is excited to further strengthen our long-term partnership with NGEN group by entering the Baltics market together. This strong collaboration will help deliver Megapack technology to support the Latvian electrical system in its advanced progress towards a renewable grid and increasing energy independence”.
Jānis Sproģis and Kārlis Maulics , co-founders of “Liepāja ESS”:
“We would like to thank the organizations and institutions involved in this project for their professional and consistent work, which has allowed the project to proceed in a transparent and predictable manner. Our goal is to implement the project on time and in accordance with the highest safety and quality standards. This is practical proof that Latvian regulation and institutional cooperation can ensure the implementation of such projects, attracting strategic investments both on a Latvian and Baltic scale.”
The planned electricity storage station will expand the possibilities for balancing electricity capacity in Latvia and the Baltics, while simultaneously strengthening the country’s energy security and technological resilience.
“LIAA is actively working on energy infrastructure investment projects and a large part of our investment portfolio, which is around 17 billion euros, is in this sector. Such technologically well-prepared and high-quality projects build Latvia’s international reputation in negotiations with other investors. Work on this project proceeded at a very fast pace, proving that we are open and interested in new investments coming to Latvia,” emphasizes LIAA Director Ieva Jagere.
Source: liaa.gov.lv
