Climate Ministry approves EIA report for Northwest Estonia offshore wind farm project

TALLINN - The Ministry of Climate has approved the environmental impact assessment (EIA) report for a wind farm to be constructed near Estonia's large western Hiiumaa island with a capacity of up to 1,100 megawatts.

According to the Climate Ministry's decision, the construction of the wind farm should prioritize the alternative favored in the EIA report's comparative analysis. Implementing this option's mitigation measure would result in a total capacity of 960 megawatts for the wind farm, equating to 48 turbines each with a unit capacity of 20 megawatts.

The Climate Ministry added that the construction and operation of the wind farm must take into account the mitigation and monitoring measures outlined in the EIA report. Based on the results of studies and monitoring, these mitigation measures may need to be updated as necessary.

The Ministry of the Environment initiated the environmental impact assessment for the planned wind farm in May 2006, as the activity is considered to have a significant environmental impact according to an application for a special water usage permit submitted by the company Nelja Energia AS, and the Environmental Impact Assessment and Environmental Management System Act.

Since December 2018, the wind farm has been developed by the listed renewable energy group Enefit Green instead of Nelja Energia AS. Enefit Green aims to establish an offshore wind farm with a capacity of up to 1,100 megawatts for the purpose of generating electricity from renewable energy. The shallows at least 12 kilometers northwest and north of the coast of Hiiumaa island have been proposed as the location for the wind farm.