For significant contribution to the energy sector, «Latvenergo» and the Latvian Academy of Sciences (LAS) present the Annual Award to Romāns Petričenko, Associate Professor at the Faculty of Electrical and Environmental Engineering of Riga Technical University (RTU) and Senior Researcher at the Institute of Energy, while Dmitrijs Guzs, Researcher at the Institute of Energy, receives the Award for Achievements in the Energy Sector for Young Scientists. Two RTU graduates were also congratulated with the Young Scientists Award.
R. Petričenko received the annual award for his scientific work «Methods, algorithms and techniques for control and automation of intelligent power systems». In awarding the prize, «Latvenergo» highlighted both his scientific achievements in international projects and his pedagogical work, as well as his significant participation in the company's project «Development of a Programme for Optimisation of Power Plant Operating Modes».
D. Guzs received the 2023 Annual Prize for Young Scientists for his PhD thesis «Cost effective, innovative solution for transmission capacity management in low-inertia weakly interconnected power systems». For a reliable power system, consumption and generation need to be in balance, and so far synchronisation with the Russian grid has ensured frequency stability in the Baltics. In his PhD thesis, D. Guzs developed an innovative solution for the frequency management of the electricity transmission network that will help to ensure the stable and reliable operation of the Baltic power system after the 2025 disconnection from Russia and synchronisation with the European transmission grid. The thesis also estimates the economic impact - savings of millions of euros for the Baltic region.
The award was also presented to Anda Jēkabsone, Project Manager at «Ekodoma» Ltd, who defended her PhD thesis «The role of energy management in achieving climate neutrality goals in municipalities in Europe» at RTU this year. In this thesis, she developed a methodology and recommendations for the implementation of a systematic approach to energy and climate management in municipalities. She also analysed the benefits of energy management systems in Latvian and EU municipalities.
Ilze Siliņa, Head of the Functionality Department at «Salaspils Siltums» Ltd, in her PhD thesis developed a methodology to plan, implement, evaluate and optimise renewable energy technologies in district heating. District heating has a great potential to introduce energy efficiency measures, use a wide range of renewable energy sources and reduce CO2 emissions. This work is also the subject of the 2023 Energy Young Scientist of the Year Awards.
This year marks the 25th edition of the Energy Awards. Every year «Latvenergo» and the Latvian Academy of Sciences organise a competition to promote the development of the industry and science, to highlight the achievements of outstanding young scientists or lifetime contributions to the energy sector. «Science attracts very special people who persevere and never give up. At the moment, the Latvian energy sector is in a very active phase of development, where we need to find the best way for the planet to become greener and renew itself, and for industry to find new and sustainable solutions to achieve climate neutrality in the sector. That is why «Latvenergo» believes that it is very important for us to support scientists and to develop high-quality cooperation, because society is now demanding green electricity, innovative solutions and determined action,» says Mārtiņš Čakste, Chairman of the Board of «Latvenergo».
Ivars Kalviņš, President of the Latvian Academy of Sciences, recognises that «we want to see an increasing role for production from renewable resources in the energy sector, so we are seeing more scientists devoting their efforts to solving energy storage and accumulation, as this plays an important role in production from non-permanent green resources. The themes of the award-winning scientists' work also reflect these processes, which gives hope for a successful collaboration between scientists and practitioners for the industry.»
