Gren has initiated a new efficiency improvement project in Jelgava, Latvia, that involves installing a 20 MW Parat electrode water-heating boiler at its biomass combined heat and power (CHP) plant. This auxiliary equipment will enable Gren to effectively exploit the dynamics of the electricity market by optimizing heat energy production when electricity prices are favourable. The electrode boiler will be integrated into the plant’s operations, promoting more efficient use of resources and supporting sustainable, cost-competitive energy production for customers. Additionally, it will ensure effective Gren’s role in providing electricity market balancing services.

“The installation of the electrode water-heating boiler is a strategic step in developing sustainable energy production in Jelgava,” says Ingus Kaprāns, Manager of Gren’s biomass CHP plant in Jelgava. “The energy market is becoming increasingly dynamic, and this project demonstrates our ability to keep pace with the times, adapt to market changes, and capitalise on opportunities presented by low or even negative electricity prices in the market. The demand for electrode boilers in Europe, particularly in Scandinavia, continues to grow, and the technology provided by the Norwegian company Parat Halvorsen, which we plan to use in Jelgava, has proven to be a reliable and sustainable solution in Europe. The implementation of modern technologies is a key prerequisite for ensuring efficient resource utilisation and delivering positive benefits to both the company and our customers.”

The electrode boiler will be installed in a compact container-type structure within the biomass CHP plant’s territory, adjacent to the heat energy storage unit.

Gren has signed an agreement with the Norwegian manufacturer Parat Halvorsen AS for the production and delivery of the electrode boiler and is currently in discussions with potential contractors for the project’s implementation. The electrode boiler is expected to be fully operational in the first quarter of 2026. During the project’s implementation, heat energy production and delivery to customers will remain unaffected.

Gren plans to invest approximately two million euros in this project, with one million euros allocated for the boiler purchase and the remainder for design and construction.