Following the conclusion of the open call for tenders for the environmental impact assessment (EIA) process for the Latvian offshore wind park ELWIND, a partner has been selected to assist with the EIA procedure.
In a tender organized by the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia (LIAA), the environmental consulting company “Estonian, Latvian & Lithuanian Environment Ltd.”, together with its partner “Tetra Tech RPS Energy” (the Consultant), has been awarded the right to conduct the EIA process. “Estonian, Latvian & Lithuanian Environment Ltd.” is one of the largest environmental consulting firms in the Baltics, with over 25 years of industry experience, particularly in renewable energy and large-scale development projects. “Tetra Tech RPS Energy” is a leading global provider of consulting and engineering services for renewable energy projects, with extensive expertise in offshore wind park management and consultation. It provides full-cycle support, from initial environmental and technical studies through to start-up, with the aim of ensuring sustainable development while minimising environmental impact.
Jānis Ločmelis, Head of the ELWIND Project Division, explains, “The development of ELWIND is a precondition for the entry of a new offshore wind industry in Latvia, which will provide us with energy security and self-sufficiency, as well as lower electricity prices. This project will help Latvia’s ports to develop, attracting investment and creating new jobs that will serve not only the ELWIND project but also the offshore wind farms of neighbouring countries. A high-quality environmental impact assessment carried out in cooperation with “Estonian, Latvian & Lithuanian Environment Ltd.” will be the first step in the implementation of the project.”
The contract foresees that the Consultant will manage the environmental impact assessment process, including assessing and monitoring conditions and risks that could delay or negatively affect the EIA process, ensuring communication and cooperation with all parties involved in the EIA process. The Consultant will be involved in the coordination of EIA studies, advise on additional studies needed to implement the EIA programme, organise several public consultations, keep the public informed on current developments and collect suggestions from the local community and institutions involved. The work will conclude with the preparation of the EIA report and the related procedures. The Consultant will also be responsible for the transboundary impact assessment process, informing and consulting the countries likely to be affected by the proposed activity.
Oskars Beikulis, Senior Consultant at “Estonian, Latvian & Lithuanian Environment Ltd.”, welcomes the opportunity to conduct the EIA process for Latvia’s first offshore wind park, while pointing out that the overall process will be challenging: “Considering that Latvia has almost no experience in offshore wind energy, it was clear when thinking about participating in the tender that we could not do without experienced specialists in this field. We have now managed to combine international experience in the development of offshore wind farms with knowledge of local processes and regulatory frameworks. At the same time, we are aware that openness of process and evaluation, as well as effective and meaningful public participation, will play a key role in this project.”
The contract has a value of € 521,540 excluding VAT, with 50% co-financed by the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF).
About ELWIND
ELWIND is a joint Estonian-Latvian cross-border project in the Baltic Sea. It is an ambitious and environmentally friendly renewable energy project with a combined capacity of up to 2 GW, which will increase the energy independence and security of the region and keep energy prices reasonable, thus reducing costs for businesses and households. In addition, it will create new business opportunities. ELWIND will help to fill the gap in domestic large-scale renewable energy production and contribute to a better functioning open energy market. The offshore wind park is expected to be built and in operation by 2035.
The pre-development work for the ELWIND project will end in 2028 with a planned auction in which the right of use of the offshore wind site will be transferred to a qualified developer. The ELWIND project is implemented by the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia (LIAA) and the Estonian Environmental Investment Centre (KIK) in cooperation with the Ministry of Economics of the Republic of Latvia and the Ministry of Climate of the Republic of Estonia.
