A Dutch trade mission will visit the Baltic States from 31 January to 4 February 2022. Representatives of the Dutch offshore wind industry will look for business opportunities in Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania.

The mission is organised by the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) on behalf of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and in cooperation with the Dutch embassies in Tallinn, Riga and Vilnius as well as Wind & Water Works (NWEA). The Dutch government wants to explore opportunities for domestic offshore wind industry. We have repeatedly reported on BalticWind.EU that the Netherlands is very interested in the newly emerging offshore wind market in the Baltic Sea. The potential for engagement was confirmed by the report “Assessment of export markets for the Dutch offshore wind industry”, prepared by the consulting firm BLIX on behalf of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

As part of the trade mission, meetings are planned with representatives of country authorities, industry associations and the regional offshore wind industry. Business opportunities are arising for Dutch entrepreneurs in wind farm development, construction and maintenance, consulting, financing, turbine installation, marine transportation, wind engineering, and port infrastructure.

According to the European industry association WindEurope, 83 GW of offshore wind capacity is planned in this Baltic region by 2050. Of this, at least 8 GW is planned in the three Baltic States. The countries see wind energy as a good way to have an independent energy supply that also contributes to national sustainability goals. Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania are working on feasibility and design studies for their first offshore wind farms.