Data centers face increasing expectations around sustainability and environmental responsibility. For hyperscale operators navigating these requirements, Lithuania has emerged as one of Northern Europe’s most credible green data center destinations.
The country has transformed its energy sector over the past decade, offering operators a clear path to net-zero operations backed by demonstrable results.
Leading Europe’s renewable transition
Lithuania generated 75.8 percent of its electricity from renewable sources in 2024, according to Eurostat – nearly double the EU average of 41.7 percent. Over the past five years, the country has added approximately 50 percent more generation capacity to the grid from renewable sources, transforming from an import-dependent market to near self-sufficiency in domestic generation.
One of the main driving forces behind the sector’s growth is consistent investments into new wind and solar farms as well as innovative solutions that enable a more efficient utilisation of renewables.
Last year, 557MW of new wind turbines and 799MW of solar panels were installed in Lithuania, while even more this year. The country’s total wind and solar capacity currently amounts to around 5403MW, which is double the country’s peak energy demand.
Lithuania aims to achieve 100 percent renewable energy for annual electricity consumption by 2028, one of the most ambitious renewable energy development targets in the EU. The grid’s carbon intensity currently sits at 139g per kilowatt hour and is projected to drop below 120g by 2028. The country’s offshore wind installations will provide particularly stable generation, with offshore wind production time reaching 91 percent annually compared to 50-55 percent for onshore wind.
Grid flexibility and stability
As renewable penetration increases, Lithuania has invested heavily in grid flexibility infrastructure. The country is expanding one of Europe’s largest hydro pump storage power plants to provide 1GW of hydro flexibility capable of running for 10 hours, equivalent to 10GWh of capacity. Additionally, Lithuania expects to have around 1.6GWh of large-scale battery storage installed by 2026, with a fourfold increase by 2028.
The ratio of renewable generation to flexibility infrastructure in Lithuania’s system will be among the highest in Europe, providing the grid stability essential for large-scale data center operations. Lithuania’s electricity grid maintains a 100 percent reliability index for 330kV networks, while the country has completed its disconnection from the BRELL system and achieved full synchronization with the continental European grid.
Paulius Butkus, head of development and innovation at new energy group EPSO-G said: “In recent years, Lithuania’s transmission system operator has successfully installed three synchronous condensers, marking a significant step toward a fossil-free energy future. These advanced devices play a crucial role in maintaining system stability by providing inertia, voltage control and short circuit capacity – key elements for operating a power grid based entirely on renewable energy sources.
“This deployment highlights the nation’s commitment to sustainable energy and technological innovation in grid management. In addition, Lithuania is reviewing and planning to introduce a flexible grid tariff, as well as support mechanisms for energy-intensive industries. These measures aim to promote electrification and the development of energy-intensive sectors”.
Competitive green economics
The country projects power prices of approximately €55/MWh by 2030, with continued renewable energy expansion expected to keep prices competitive as offshore wind comes online. Green certificates are available to guarantee renewable energy attribution for every megawatt consumed, which is relevant for operators managing Scope 2 emissions reporting and client sustainability requirements.
Lithuania has immediately available grid capacity at former industrial sites, many utilizing decommissioned infrastructure that makes connection relatively straightforward. The combination of lower population density and grid infrastructure originally built for large-scale industrial production has enabled faster permitting and more abundant green connections than in more densely populated European markets.
Kruonis: Lithuania’s hyperscale hub
At the center of Lithuania’s green data center proposition sits Kruonis Technology Park, where renewable infrastructure, grid resilience, and strategic positioning converge in a single location.
Located next to the 900MW Kruonis Pumped Storage Power Plant, the 75-hectare greenfield site offers near-term access to 450MW of power capacity, expandable to 1GW. The adjacent pumped storage plant delivers black start capability, ensuring the grid resilience and power quality that hyperscale operations require.
The site features triple 330kV grid redundancy, fiber routes to major European hubs (for instance, Stockholm (12-16ms), Frankfurt (18-22ms), and Amsterdam (21-25ms)), and sits within a designated no-flight zone.
As part of the Kaunas free economic zone, Kruonis comes with zero percent real estate tax. Lithuania’s Investment Highway initiative is another bonus, cutting pre-construction timelines for large-scale projects from 24 to nine months within free economic zones, significantly accelerating time to market for hyperscale deployments.
As the EU targets 42.5 percent renewables in its total energy mix by 2030, Lithuania’s current renewable electricity generation – nearly double that figure – places it years ahead of this trajectory. For operators working to meet sustainability commitments, Lithuania has established renewable infrastructure, expandable green capacity, and regulatory frameworks designed to support data center deployment.
Read the orginal article: https://www.datacenterdynamics.com/en/product-news/lithuania-a-truly-green-data-center-destination/
