Liepiņš: Latvia must find its place in Europe's energy system
H2Latvia head Kaspars Liepiņš argues Latvia should develop renewable energy, hydrogen and synthetic fuels to become an important link in Europe's energy supply chains. He says this would give the country both economic and geopolitical significance.
Kaspars Liepiņš, chairman of the board of H2Latvia, coordinator of the Latvian Hydrogen Alliance and project manager of the Green and Smart Technology Cluster, said on the TV24 program "Nacionālo interešu klubs" that Latvia needs to think not only about producing enough energy for itself, but also about its role in Europe's broader energy security system.
He stressed that from a geopolitical perspective it is important for Latvia to understand its place within Europe — otherwise, he warned, the country risks being of little interest to others. Instead, Liepiņš argued, Latvia should aim to become part of a larger system rather than merely covering its own daily needs.
Past experience and new opportunities
Liepiņš recalled that Latvia has previously succeeded in finding products competitive on international markets, citing bacon and butter as historical examples, though he acknowledged that competing with those today is no longer realistic. He believes Latvia should instead capitalize on its geographic location and natural resources, particularly in renewable energy.
Among potential directions, he named synthetic fuel production, which could help meet European demand, as well as involvement in hydrogen production and supply chains. He also pointed to broader related processes, such as heat energy production.
A geopolitical dimension
According to Liepiņš, such development would carry not only economic but also geopolitical weight — if Latvia became a significant link in Europe's energy or hydrogen supply chains, its role within the continent's overall security system would grow. He urged looking at energy policy more broadly than simply building individual power plants or wind farms, but as an opportunity for Latvia to find its niche in Europe.
