The new hybrid park, spanning Utena and Butrimonys near Vilnius, operates under an Energy-as-a-Service model. As Lithuania’s first industrial project of its kind, it combines energy supply and financing innovation with a €7.5 million investment.
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A European flagship project
The European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA) described the project as particularly innovative, as it is the first of its kind in Lithuania in which PV power and battery capacities across multiple locations have been combined into a single service package. At the brewery site in Utena a 2.5 MW rooftop solar power plant with 2 MWh lithium-ion battery storage serves as basic on-site equipment. To meet full annual demand for clean power, a remote 5 MW solar park with 4 MWh storage was built in Butrimonys, supplying electricity directly to the brewery. For the first time Green Genius integrated direct current (DC) and alternating current (AC) battery connections in a single system, which is intended to guarantee a higher network load. The company says this could increase by up to 30%.
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Lithuania’s Largest Private Battery System
The hybrid energy system currently is the largest privately used battery solution in Lithuania, either by businesses or households. Ruslanas Sklepovičius, CEO of Green Genius says: “This project is a double win for Lithuania. First, one of the country’s largest industrial producers is now fully powered by green electricity, entirely CO₂-free. Secondly, the batteries are integrated into the grid, strengthening national energy resilience and helping grid operators balance the system. This is especially relevant now as the Baltic States synchronise with Western Europe”.
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Corporate Leadership with a Focus on Renewable Energy
Rolandas Viršilas, CEO of Carlsberg’s brewery Švyturys-Utenos Alus explains: “We have strong environmental commitments and a clear strategy to meet them. We believe our example will inspire other businesses in Lithuania. By investing in green energy, we also contribute to Lithuania’s energy security, something recent years have shown to be crucial.”
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New financing model enables energy transition with zero upfront investment
Green Genius fully developed and installed the €7.5 million project, with financing from Citadele Bank and €2.6 million co-funding from the EU Innovation Fund, administered by CINEA. The Energy-as-a-Service model, increasingly popular across Europe’s industrial sector, allows companies to transition to renewable energy without the need for upfront capital investment. According to Ruslanas Sklepovičius, this model is crucial for businesses aiming to meet the EU's 2050 climate neutrality targets.(mg)
