Preparations are underway to announce a tender for the development of an offshore wind farm without state support. The Ministry of Energy submitted for public consultation drafts of the Government’s resolutions regarding the location in the Baltic Sea where a 700 MW offshore wind power plant park would be developed, as well as the requirements for the bidders.
It is planned that this offshore wind park should appear in the territorial waters of Lithuania in the Baltic Sea at a distance of almost 36 km from the shore. It should be installed by 2028, and the energy generated by it would provide up to a quarter of Lithuania’s total electricity demand.
“This is undoubtedly one of the most important projects in terms of strengthening energy independence. It will directly reduce the volume of electricity imports and create an opportunity to produce local cheaper green electricity. Due to the efficiency, the production of electricity from offshore wind has a greater potential than on land, so we must use this opportunity”, says Deputy Minister of Energy Daiva Garbaliauskaitė, according to whom both Lithuanian and foreign developers are actively interested in the opportunity to participate in the competition.
The tender is expected to be won by the developer who offers the highest development fee to the state. After the government adopts the resolutions, on March 30 the State Energy Regulatory Council (VERT) should announce a tender to select the developer of this park.
The proposed Government resolution stipulates requirements for participants’ financial capacity, experience in carrying out projects of this type, and obligations to contribute to environmental protection and the well-being of the coastal community. The developer will have to carry out all necessary research, environmental impact assessment and other necessary actions for the development of the park. Also, the winner of the tender will be responsible for connecting to the electricity transmission networks on land and for the imbalance caused by the generated electricity.
Another tender for the development of the offshore wind park is planned to be announced in the autumn of this year. Both offshore wind farms would provide approximately half of Lithuania’s current electricity needs.
Source: Lithuanian Ministry of Energy
