Already in 2026, the construction rights of the Latvian and Estonian offshore wind farm ELWIND are planned to be auctioned, therefore the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia (IDAL) together with the Estonian Environmental Investment Centre have submitted a project application to the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) programme.
After the project is approved, we will start studies for the most optimal construction of the offshore wind farm interconnector between the two countries, the construction of the electric grid infrastructure, as well as detailed exploration of offshore wind areas. The total cost of studies of the two countries is expected to exceed EUR 30 million, but the CEF Fund could cover half of them. The CEF Project is an essential stage in preparing for the auction of the offshore wind farm ELWIND, Laura Štrovalde, deputy director of IDAL in investment matters, emphasises.
The purpose of the project is to carry out exploration of the wind farm areas of the Latvian and Estonian offshore wind farm and the interconnector infrastructure necessary for them, and it will be implemented in partnership with the Estonian Environmental Investment Centre.
It is expected that, during the implementation of the project, a feasibility study will be carried out on the technical feasibility of the electric grid connection points and interconnector, as well as both theoretical and geotechnical studies of offshore wind areas of both countries, which will provide the necessary information for the design and construction of offshore wind farms and related infrastructure.
A decision on the prepared project application will be taken by the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA) by May 2023.
The ELWIND offshore wind farm will be an important project for the Baltic Sea region with a large economic and social impact and will have a combined electricity capacity of up to 1000 MW. According to the results of the feasibility study, the offshore wind farm in Latvia will be built on the coast of Kurzeme between Liepaja and Ventspils, where, according to the studies performed, there are the most appropriate conditions for the development of the wind farm. Wind turbines will be built about 15 km from the shoreline.
The project is being developed on the basis of the ecosystem approach introduced in Latvia to promote innovation and business development, as well as raise large-scale investments. It is a long-term project that will stimulate the development of sectors such as smart energy, ICT, smart materials and engineering systems. The costs of implementing the project will depend on a variety of factors, such as projected inflation, availability of materials, the workload of service providers and contractors involved. The total cost, which would mainly be borne by the investor, could amount to several billion euros. However, it is already clear that the project will be profitable, as wind power has become competitive without national subsidies as technologies develop. Investors from Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands and other countries with significant experience in the implementation of such projects have expressed interest in the development of the offshore wind farms.
The ELWIND project timeline predicts that all studies will be conducted and necessary building permits will be coordinated by 2026. After this, it is planned to organise an auction for undertakings who will want to participate in the further implementation of the project. The final deadline of the project is expected to be 2030.
Information prepared by
IDAL Department of Communication and Information
Telephone: +371 29725674
E-mail: prese@liaa.gov.lv