Estonia’s Consumer Protection and Technical Regulatory Authority (CPTRA) has officially initiated superficies licence proceedings and an environmental impact assessment for the Saare 1 offshore wind farm, marking a significant step forward for the nation’s renewable energy goals. This development follows French company Oxan Energy’s successful bid in the Saare 1 sea area auction held in January.
The proposed Saare 1 wind farm, located approximately 60 kilometres west of Saaremaa island, is slated to feature up to 60 wind turbines with a total capacity of up to 900 MW, alongside as many as three offshore substations. The 88 km² Saare 1 area has been designated as an innovation zone suitable for wind energy development within Estonia’s maritime spatial plan.
Oxan Energy, a French developer specialising in marine energy, particularly floating wind turbines, was founded in 2023 and operates internationally with a focus on European markets. The company’s portfolio includes the development, construction, and operation of offshore wind projects and green hydrogen production units.
With the initiation of the superficies licence proceedings and environmental impact assessment, Oxan Energy is now tasked with preparing the environmental impact assessment programme within 18 months. This will be followed by the submission of the environmental impact assessment report within 24 months of the programme’s approval. Upon the report’s approval, the superficies licence can be issued, enabling the developer to proceed with building permit applications after design work is complete.
The CPTRA plays a pivotal role in Estonia’s offshore wind sector, overseeing superficies licence applications and issuing building and operating permits. To date, the authority has announced winners for five sea area auctions and has initiated superficies licence proceedings and environmental impact assessments for offshore wind farms a total of 12 times, with one superficies licence already issued. The CPTRA’s commitment extends to ensuring that offshore wind farms adhere to environmental standards and construction regulations.
This advancement in the Saare 1 project underscores Estonia’s commitment to harnessing its offshore wind potential, contributing to regional energy security and the broader European energy transition efforts.
Source: CPTRA
