Seven competing applications submitted for offshore wind sites in Estonia

Developers are vying for two sites for offshore wind projects located in the Gulf of Riga, setting up Estonia’s first-ever auction round expected by at the end of the year.

A total of seven competing applications were submitted within the deadline on August 28, including bids from Mainstream, Vårgrønn/European Energy and CIP/Ignitis. The competition for the site was initiated after Estonian utility company Utilitas submitted a project proposal for the two areas Liivi 1 and Liivi 2 in the Gulf of Riga. Estonian regulations allow, once the TTJA (Estonian Consumer Protection and Technical Regulatory Authority) has received a project proposal and the process for awarding a permit has begun, that competing bids for the site may be submitted within a 60-day period. Competing bids will trigger a price-only auction round for the rights to the sites. The auction round for Liivi 1 and Liivi 2 is expected to take place in November or December this year.