A unique solar panel system in Latvia will operate on the roof of the Riga Plaza shopping center

The Rīga Plaza shopping center has taken a significant step towards energy independence by installing a 408 kWp solar energy park on the roof of the building. Innovative solar panels were used in its construction, which generate 15% more green energy than previous generation technologies. In addition, a fastening system unique in Latvia was used in the construction, which reduces the load on the roof and improves the safety of the structure. The solar park was built by the energy company Enefit.

A total of 809 solar panels with a total area of almost 2,000 m² were installed on the roof of the shopping center. The solar park has been built using a special fastening system that does not use heavy counterweights, but instead fastens the solar panels to the roof surface using a special technique, ensuring additional stability even in strong wind or snow conditions.

With the new solar energy system, the company will generate an average of 361 MWh of green energy per year, which will cover 80% of its electricity consumption on sunny days, ensuring the operation of the shopping center's ventilation, air conditioning, and water pump stations. In addition, this will reduce CO₂ emissions into the environment by more than 39 tons per year*.

"The creation of a solar panel park is an important step in Riga Plaza's long-term development strategy: we want to be a shopping center that not only serves everyday needs, but also proves that commercial buildings can become part of a greener future for the city. The chosen technologically advanced solution will not only ensure greater energy efficiency in the future, but the solar energy system will also cover part of the center's daily electricity consumption, which is a significant step towards the sustainable use of energy resources," emphasizes Irīna Toropova, manager of Rīga Plaza.

"With the creation of the solar park on the roof of Riga Plaza, we are promoting a cleaner environment and supporting the city's sustainability goals, while at the same time providing customers with the opportunity to significantly reduce their energy consumption in their daily operations. We are delighted that more and more business customers are recognizing the benefits of green energy production, which allows them to cover a significant portion of their electricity consumption and thus significantly reduce their monthly expenses," says Rihards Kotlers, member of the board of Enefit.

* Calculation made using the AIB methodology, based on EU Directive 2019/944.