Estonia’s Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications has rejected Sunly Wind OU’s application for a permit to build an offshore wind farm near Hiiumaa Island, reports BNS.
According to the ministry, the design and construction of a wind farm require the preparation of a national land use plan or other appropriate zoning plan. The Supreme Court, in a decision dated 8 August 2018, invalidated the district plan for areas designated for wind energy in the maritime area bordering Hiiu County. Therefore, it is mandatory to prepare a national spatial plan for the planned Sunly Wind power plant, read BNS findings.
The ministry added that despite the fact that the farm will have a capacity of less than 400 MW, as specified in the Planning Act, and be equipped with 33 turbines installed in an area of 82 square kilometers, it will have a significant spatial impact. The location of the farms and subsequent operation are in the national interest, the ministry added, as quoted by BNS.
In June, Estonia’s Consumer Protection and Technical Regulation Authority forwarded Sunly’s application to other authorities. The proposal was for the construction of a 396 MW offshore wind farm in the Hiiumaa area.
In July 2022, the Port of Tallinn and Sunly signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to accelerate offshore wind development in the Baltics and business opportunities for the development, installation, operation and maintenance of Sunly’s offshore wind farms.
The Supervisory Board of the Port of Tallinn has decided to invest up to €53 million in Paldiski Lõunasadam to build a new 310-meter quay with a 10-hectare hinterland area. The wharf and hinterland area is scheduled for completion in the summer of 2025.
Sunly is also considering the port of Saaremaa as a service base for offshore wind turbines and the MPSV Botnica vessel – both owned by the Port of Tallinn – for conduction of testing.
Sunly is developing offshore wind farms in the western waters of Saaremaa Island and the northern waters of Hiiumaa Island,. They also have plans for the same projects in Latvia and Lithuania.
Source: BNS/BalticTimes.com/Sunly
