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The electricity production of the Gulf of Riga Offshore wind farm would cover half of Estonian energy consumption and aid to achieve affordable electricity prices, energy security and the renewable energy goals of the government. In July the developer Enefit signed an agreement to prepare a conceptual engineering design for the wind farm. The design project is co-financed by European Union.

Margus Vals , Member of the Management Board of Enefit, said that there is currently a great need for renewable electricity throughout Europe. “Increasing production of renewable energy is critical for the environment, consumers, and national security. The Gulf of Riga offshore wind farm plays a key role in Estonia’s energy supply and aligns with the government’s goals of green transition. Upon successful completion of the planning phase, the wind farm could start production as early as 2028 and cover half of the electricity consumed in Estonia. This is an effective and realistic project to produce affordable and environmentally friendly electricity on a large scale in Estonia and increase energy security for the whole region,” said Vals.

The preliminary work for the Gulf of Riga wind farm is actively ongoing. In spring thorough research for environmental impact assessment started and is planned to take two years. In July Enefit signed an agreement to prepare a conceptual engineering design for the wind farm which is planned be completed by the end of 2022.

The design will be prepared by accomplished international engineering and consulting company BLIX Consultancy . BLIX will analyze alternative wind turbine options as well as foundations, substation, and onshore solutions to the wind farm. The design will also provide technical solutions as input to the ongoing environmental impact assessment.

According to Vals, the conceptual engineering design plan will give a more detailed overview of what the Gulf of Riga offshore farm could be like. “The design will not provide final and definitive answers but proposes solutions that are both technically and environmentally sound. This information is important for us as developer, the authorities as well as partners,” he said.

Albert van der Hem , Founder and Managing Director of BLIX Consultancy, stated: “We will share our more than 20 years of offshore wind development experience with Enefit and optimize the design of the Gulf of Riga offshore wind farm. We will not only include relevant experience of recent offshore wind developments in North-West Europe and Asia, but of our recent assignments for clients in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Finland and Poland.”

The conceptual engineering design was commissioned through public procurement announced in June. The conceptual engineering design project is co-financed by the Connecting Europe Facility of the European Union.

The offshore wind farm is developed by Enefit and planned in the Gulf of Riga, ca 11 km away from the nearest landpoint on Kihnu island. The development area of the offshore wind farm is determined by the spatial plan of the offshore area bordering Pärnu County. The park has a production capacity of 1 gigawatt and estimated annual production of 4.5 terawatt-hours. Additional information: https://liivimeretuulepark.ee/.

The preliminary visualization of The Gulf of Riga Offshore wind farm: