Lithuania Reaches New Solar Milestone with 870 MW Installed in 2024

April 9, 2025
Lithuania has achieved a significant milestone in renewable energy by installing 870 megawatts (MW) of solar power in 2024. This development marks the highest annual installation to date, surpassing the previous figures of 572 MW in 2022 and 536 MW in 2023. With these additions, Lithuania's total solar capacity now exceeds 1.97 gigawatts (GW), which includes nearly 1.4 GW from residential solar systems and 583 MW from utility-scale projects.

Continuing Growth Driven by Policy Support

According to Juras Ulbikas, research director at the Applied Research Institute for Prospective Technologies in Vilnius, and Vitas Maciulis, former president of the Lithuanian Solar Energy Association, several factors contribute to the rapid growth of solar energy in Lithuania. They highlighted the country's favorable legal, administrative, and technical environment as crucial for solar development.

An attractive subsidy scheme plays a pivotal role in encouraging solar installations. Households can receive subsidies covering 30% of installation costs for systems up to 10 kW, while small- and medium-sized enterprises can benefit from subsidies of up to 25%. Energy communities, comprising individuals or companies, can receive up to 45% in financial support.

Commercial Options and Challenges Ahead

The current net metering policy allows residential installations of up to 500 kW to benefit from selling excess power back to the grid. Ulbikas and Maciulis project that by 2030, 16% of electricity users in Lithuania will become "prosumers," individuals who both produce and consume electricity.

Although the government is contemplating a change from net metering to net billing and has discontinued net metering for new commercial systems, there are assurances that the existing scheme will remain unchanged for a decade.

Another noteworthy development is the launch of an online platform by Ignitis, Lithuania's largest electricity producer. This platform allows consumers to buy or lease a portion of a large-scale solar installation. For instance, an individual can purchase 5 kW from a 1,000 kW station. The flexibility of this model and the application of net metering to these acquisitions are expected to significantly enhance solar adoption among households and businesses.

Despite the supportive regulatory framework, Ulbikas and Maciulis pointed out that grid connection challenges persist. They noted that the processes involved in connecting new solar plants to the grid can be slow, sometimes taking over a year, whereas the construction of utility-scale solar plants itself is considerably faster.

Future Projections for Solar Capacity

The Lithuanian government is actively working to improve the grid's capacity to handle increased solar energy generation. A new initiative encourages combining solar and wind systems at a single connection point, effectively doubling the grid's ability to absorb renewable energy by allowing 100 kW of solar and 100 kW of wind to connect through one line.

Additionally, the government is investing in support schemes for both residential and utility-scale energy storage systems, which are rapidly developing across the country. Evaluations from the Ministry of Energy suggest that Lithuania's solar capacity could increase to 2.7 GW by the end of 2025 and reach 3.2 GW by the end of 2026. By 2028, the Lithuanian Solar Energy Association forecasts that total capacity could surpass 4 GW, significantly driven by both residential and utility-scale projects.

Lithuania's commitment to expanding its solar capacity illustrates the country's dedication to fostering renewable energy and achieving energy independence.