A biomass combined heat and power plant - An enabler of circular economy in a city

In Latvia Fortum operates in Jelgava, where the company is a district heating operator since 2008, and also in Daugavpils, where it provides approximately 40 % of the heat energy necessary for the city since 2018. In Jelgava Fortum has constructed the largest biomass combined heat and power (CHP) plant in Latvia that provides as much as 85% of the heat necessary for Jelgava’s district heating. Electricity produced is sold in the free market and to some large industrial customers. Its biomass CHP plant has promoted the development of the Zemgale region by creating around 300 indirect workplaces in the fuel supply chain and also contributed to filling the environmental targets under the Covenant of Mayors that Jelgava has signed. Fortum is working on another circular economy project for fuel diversification in the Jelgava biomass CHP plant to add 35% of refuse-derived fuel (RDF) to the wood chips. This will enhance sustainable waste management in Jelgava and in the region, and reduce the amount of waste in land fields.