Solar Collectors to Be Installed on Buildings of the Freeport of Riga

It is envisaged in the project to use new generation direct flow evacuated tube solar collector panels with parabolic mirrors. These panels have been certified with Solar Keymark certificate, they are manufactured in the European Union, their warranty term is 10 years. The project is implemented within the frameworks of the Climate change financial instrument (CCFI) program. Total sum of the project is 147 thousand lats – of them 85% are covered by CCFI, but 15% are co-financing of the Freeport of Riga Authority. Term planned for implementation of the project is until the end of June 2012. Total investments of the project will pay off within 7 to 8 years, but since co-financing of the Freeport is only 15% of the total amount, investment of the Freeport of Riga Authority will pay off already within 2 to 3 years. Viesturs Silenieks, Deputy Chairman of the Board at the Freeport of Riga Authority, representative of Ministry of the Environment, notes: “Of course, economic effect of implementation of such projects is very significant, but, to my mind, the most important is introduction of the “green thinking” in life. Solar collectors are future energy – its resources are inexhaustible and its use does not affect the quality of environment in any way. Autonomous natural gas heating system is used in the buildings included in the project, which is a modern solution from many aspects – natural gas is used rationally because its consumption according to the temperature outside and the necessity is adjusted automatically, and natural gas is one of fuel types that creates the least CO2 emissions in the atmosphere. Additionally installing solar collectors, consumption of natural gas decreases by 35%, thus also the amount of emissions. It should be noted that the Freeport of Riga Authority has always subjected its management to high environmental protection standards – this project is another proof of our “green thinking”.

Solar collectors with total surface area of 136.8 square meters will be installed on the central office building in Kronvalda Park and on two buildings at 3 Meldru Street where the Harbor Master Service is located. In summer the produced hot water will provide all needs of these buildings, including operation of showers established in employee dressing rooms in the complex at Meldru Street. “Energotaupošas sistēmas un tehnoloģijas” Ltd was the winner of the tender announced for implementation of this project. Valdis Šakars, Director of the company, informs: “All buildings included in the project are technically suitable for installation of solar panels, because they have vast flat roofs. The project envisages use of solar energy also for preheating of return liquid of heating system, thus solar energy is used both for heating and as primary energy source for hot water supply. In this case, thermal energy created by the gas will be used only to heat the difference up to the necessary temperature of heating circuit that is diverted to heating elements. Taking into account geographic location and climate of Latvia, more than one third part of the total annual consumption of thermal energy is expected to be ensured with solar energy in the buildings included in the project.”