ANALYSIS OF PERSPECTIVES OF USING REED RESOURCES IN LATGALE REGION

Abstract

Increasing demand for energy, limited resources of fossil fuel, as well as pollution of the environment and changes of the global climate, have raised more interest in renewable resources. Support to the use of renewable resources has become a very important part of the European Union’s policy. The use of reeds like renewable energy resources allows saving fossil fuels. This paper presents the findings on the reed resources in lakes of Latgale (region in Latvia). The investigation of reed resources shows that the resources in the region are situated in a very uneven way. The greatest amount of reed resources is concentrated in the biggest lake in Latvia - Lubana Lake as well as near it. Using direct measurement methods and metering in the distance, it was stated that the total reed resources of Lubana Lake are 8,203? 2,999 tons, occupy 882 hectares and are situated in 429 reed blocks. Summary resources of Latgale region are 19,862? 7,409 tons. The amount of heat that can be obtained using reed resources of Latgale region is equivalent to 10,543 tons of natural gas or 8,802 tons of petroleum, or 13,092- 21,348 tons of coal (it depends on the heating of coal), or 7,675 tons of fuel, or 8,712 – 12,199 tons of oil (depends on the heating of oil).