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Electric vehicles (EVs) are reviewed in the context of policy and technical aspects taking into consideration the Lithuanian national picture over the global and European Union developments within this field. The paper presents also the best practices for deployment of EVs including the potential niche markets and the challenges and opportunities within the energy and power systems support. A critical evaluation is also performed on the relevant research and developments in Lithuania. Finally, the paper evaluates the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats through a developed SWOT analysis. This review will provide insight to the EVs challenges and opportunities within the Baltic Region. It is expected this will inspire individuals, business and policy makers to allow and incentivise deployment of EVs to enhance efficiency in transport and consequently contribute towards GHG emissions reduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: District heating sector is one of the most important sectors of Lithuanian energy industry. Consequently, low-cost bioenergy sources could play an important role in developing biofuels based on the so-called second-generation feedstock and decentralized energy supply for remote rural areas with low heat demand density. The present amount of biomass straw is already considerable in Lithuania but the potential is even much higher. It is assumed that the share of firewood in the balance of RES will decrease significantly – from 86.7% in 2009 to 55% in 2020 and future decisions on the acceptability of new substitutes must be found. The most important factors that could hasten the diffusion of straw combustion technologies for heat-only boilers (HOBs) in order to contribute to a local fuel and low-emission energy infrastructure are political issues, reduction in existing technical thresholds, market and economic conditions, international cooperation activity, and broad experience through wood residue combustion. The collected data indicated that under conditions in Lithuania, biomass straw combustion is prospective mainly to be used for heat production in small and medium scale units of 0.6–5.0MWth capacity as well as in large scale installations where multi-biomass strategies are foreseen. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]