Sustainable energy strategy of Lithuanian Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant region for 2012–2035 as a chance for regional development

The article describes the Lithuanian energy policy and study on sustainable energy development and implementation of renewables in the important Lithuanian regions. For the estimations, the strategically substantial Lithuanian region with the decommissioned Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant (INPP) was selected. The sustainable Energy Strategy 2012–2035 for the INPP region development was prepared and the process of strategy preparation was overviewed. Recently, the reduction of inhabitants and the declining of dominant economy sectors in INPP region were observed. In the Strategy the energy supply and consumption tendencies in INPP region and its municipalities are studied, the final electricity consumption and district heating demand was calculated, the heat and electricity generation from RES was highlighted. The analysis of RES implementation possibilities in Ignalina NPP region and its municipalities was carried out. The solar energy potential, the wind energy resources and the potential of wood fuel in INPP region were examined. The potential RES estimation criterions were set. The theoretical and technical potentials of the final energy from RES in INPP region were defined. The estimated theoretical energy potential in INPP region reached about 1418GWh/year and was about twice higher than the needs of INPP region (650GWh/year). The calculated technical final energy potential from RES in INPP region was about 350GWh/year. In the article, the energy needs in the INPP region and its municipalities for 2011 were defined and development targets for 2035 were predicted. The emissions of CO2 in region in 2011 and targets for 2035 were shown. The activities of the Action Plan in INPP region and its municipalities during the period 2012–2035 were foreseen, and the financing opportunities were listed.