The state-controlled electricity and gas supply company Ignitis (former Lietuvos Energijos Tiekimas) says the platform, named Ignitis Saules Parkai (Ignitis Solar Farms), is the first of its kind in the world and is open to all solar power plant developers.
"It is the first open energy platform in the world that allows any household in the country to purchase a virtual power plant online," Darius Maikstenas, CEO of Ignitis Group (former Lietuvos Energija), said at a news conference on Tuesday.
"We are the first in the world to do so," he added. "We see that there is very strong interest."
The first such power plant is planned to start generating electricity in March 2020. Around 1,500 households will be able to become its owners at the initial stage.
Ignitis expects that favorable conditions and support will help grow the number of electricity-generating consumers to over 10,000 by the end of 2020.
Based on data on average electricity consumption by Lithuanian apartments, a 2-3 kW solar power module would be sufficient to meet the electricity needs of the vast majority of households.