Lithuania Ponders 700-MW Wind Park in Baltic Sea

Lithuania’s Ministry of Energy has determined that an offshore wind park with a capacity of 700 MW can be built in the Baltic Sea to produce enough electricity to meet about 25% of the country’s current annual power needs.

The energy ministry this week submitted a draft Government Resolution to stakeholders for coordination on wind project locations, along with capacity proposals. The draft is based on the recommendations of a working group consisting of representatives from state institutions and business associations.

One proposal calls for the ministry to prepare the necessary bills regulating a support scheme for projects to be developed in Lithuania’s territorial waters. It will need to coordinate that mechanism with the European Commission (EC) by June 1. According to the ministry, the first offshore wind auctions in the country could be announced in 2023 and the awarded projects would have to be implemented by the end of the decade.

The planned offshore wind territory is about 29 km from shore and covers an area of 137.5 sq km. It is characterised with an average water depth of 35 metres and an average wind speed of some 9 metres per second. It is estimated that a 700-MW offshore wind farm built there would be producing between 2.5 TWh and 3 TWh of electricity per year.

“Conditions for the development of onshore wind energy have already been created, and this is now another step forward – creating a favourable environment for wind energy in the Baltic Sea,” said energy minister Zygimantas Vaiciunas.