Latvia Powers 55% of Its Grid With Solar Energy

Latvia just hit a milestone that would have seemed impossible a few years ago: solar power generated 55% of the country's electricity in July, outpacing every other energy source for the third straight month.

The country's 1.8 gigawatts of solar capacity produced 235 gigawatt-hours of electricity last month, more than double what solar generated in July 2023. Hydropower came in second at 28% of total production.

Even more impressive, Latvia produced 73% of its own electricity needs locally, importing just 27% from neighboring countries. That's a dramatic shift for a nation that historically relied heavily on imports and natural gas.

The solar boom happened fast. In 2024, solar provided just 9% of Latvia's annual electricity. By the first half of 2025, that share jumped to 23%. For the first time ever, solar panels generated more electricity than natural gas plants across the country.

The Ripple Effect

The Baltic region's renewable energy surge is creating benefits far beyond environmental wins. While heat and drought drove electricity prices sky-high across much of Europe in July, Latvia's costs actually dropped 19% to €74.95 per megawatt-hour.

Estonia saw prices fall 32%, and Lithuania dropped 19%. The reason? Solar and wind farms across the three Baltic states provided 73% of the region's electricity, cushioning consumers from volatile fossil fuel markets.

The abundance of renewable power even turned the Baltic countries into temporary electricity exporters during sunny daytime hours, sending clean energy north to Scandinavia and south to Poland. They only needed to import power at night when solar output dropped.

This pattern shows how quickly regional energy systems can transform when solar capacity scales up. Latvia went from solar providing less than one-tenth of its power to being the dominant source in roughly 18 months.

The country's transmission system operator notes that decreased daylight hours in July meant 14% less solar production than June, yet output still matched May levels and far exceeded the previous year. As capacity continues growing past 1.8 gigawatts, even shorter winter days should see significant solar contributions.

Latvia's success offers a roadmap for other small nations looking to boost energy independence while controlling costs. Rapid solar deployment, supported by regional cooperation and grid connections, can deliver affordable clean electricity faster than many experts predicted possible.