Four new and significant members have joined the Latvian Wind Energy Association (LWEA) in the last six months – renewable energy project developer Sunly, number one offshore wind developer globally Ørsted, solar and wind farm developer European Energy and SIA Gaismas rati, a local company offering high altitude solutions.
“Over the past six months we have expanded by welcoming four strong companies to our membership. We are honoured to welcome both the international companies, which are willing to take part in promoting a successful development of the Latvian wind industry, and the local companies, which show trust in LWEA activities and ability to represent and involve its members in current processes,” says Head of the Latvian Wind Energy Association Andris Vanags. He adds that the new members’ experience and knowledge will help LWEA to show society the importance and benefits of the wind industry’s development.
Danish company Ørsted is the number one offshore wind developer globally and in 2021 was recognized as the most sustainable energy company by the Corporate Knights index (index of the world’s most sustainable corporations). Ørsted employs 6,311 people and the group’s revenue in 2020 was DKK 52.6 billion (EUR 7.1 billion). Company’s vision is to create a world that runs entirely on green energy.
Marianne Beck Hassl, Senior Regulatory Advisor at Ørsted, appreciates wind energy’s potential in the Baltic region and explains that joining LWEA will boost cooperation and will help to achieve Europe’s long-term decarbonisation goals. “The Baltic Sea holds as much as 93 GW offshore wind potential by 2050 and this gives Latvia and other Baltic states the opportunity to play a significant role in the green transformation of Europe’s energy system. We are very pleased to join LWEA where we look forward to working together with colleagues from the industry. We hope that we will be able to ensure that the barriers are dealt with and that we can share our learnings from other markets in order to help Latvian authorities develop soundproof regulatory and market conditions for offshore wind,” says M.B.Hassl.
Sunly operates in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland and is proud of its experienced expert teams, which develop, implement and operate renewable energy projects. Sunly’s solar energy portfolio in the Baltics and Poland holds 132 MW and, with additional investments, the company plans to double this figure by the end of next year and direct funds to wind farm development.
“Sunly is working to become the main independent electricity producer in the Baltics. To achieve this goal, the company actively invests in wind and solar energy assets. Sunly’s participation in LWEA is a logical step for the effective acquisition of wind energy potential in Latvia,” says Toms Nāburgs, Managing Director at Sunly.
European Energy develops, finances, constructs and operates wind and solar farms as well as large-scale PtX plants. Based in Copenhagen, Denmark, the company has a strong track record as a renewable energy operator across its 18 countries of operation. European Energy expects to grid-connect more than 750 MW in 2021 with another +1 GW in 2022. European Energy has entered the Baltic states and has become one of the active industry representatives in all three Baltic countries.
“European Energy is seeing great ambitions in the Baltic countries to become world-leaders in renewable energy and securing both clean energy as well as energy security. We believe that LWEA can support European Energy in living up to the high standards that the Latvian market has for world class renewable energy. We are looking forward to work together with LWEA,” says Michael Viberg Pedersen, Head of Project Development in South Eastern Europe, Latvia & Estonia at European Energy.
Local company Gaismas Rati has also joined LWEA. Gaismas Rati offers high-altitude technical solutions by using industrial climbing and rope access technique. The company specializes in wind turbine blades’ technical inspection and repair as well as defect elimination in other wind turbine components, starting from support during the construction process to full supervision after commissioning. Gaismas Rati operates in Latvia, other Baltic states and Scandinavia.
“Wind industry is an important part of an industrial climbing service providers’ operation. We specialize in wind turbine blades’ technical inspection and repair and that has allowed us to expand our operations not only in Latvia, but also in Scandinavia and elsewhere throughout Europe. Global wind industry is booming. Latvia, too, is about to develop its first large-scale wind farms soon, therefore, it is important to us to cooperate with the industry’s experts and developers and to share our experience, offer solutions for a safe working environment in high-altitude and promote sustainability and circular economy,” says Normunds Zuševics, Head of Gaismas Rati.
Currently, the Latvian Wind Energy Association represents 18 corporate members and three individual members, including both local and foreign entrepreneurs.
Source: LWEA
