Estonian offshore wind farm takes shape

The preliminary design for the Hiiu offshore wind farm will be prepared by international consulting firm Ramboll. The company will analyze various options for the wind turbines and solutions for substations and interconnecting cables to the park. The design also includes specifying the possibilities and needs of nearby ports during construction and maintenance. Technical solutions for the ongoing environmental impact assessment will also be provided.

According to Karmo Kõrvek, offshore wind development manager at Enefit Green, the preliminary design plan will provide a more detailed overview of what the Hiiu offshore park could look like. “The design will not provide definitive answers, but proposes solutions that are both technically and environmentally sound. This information is important for the developer, the authorities as well as potential partners among entrepreneurs,” Kõrvek said.

Kõrvek added that the ongoing environmental impact assessment for the Hiiu offshore wind farm is also looking at different types of turbines. „Hiiu park would be in construction phase by 2030, therefore it is important for all research and analysis to be based on the newest possible technology. Developing an offshore wind farm takes a long time but is also a very strong step on our journey to zero, as the production of even one offshore wind farm would cover half of Estonia’s electricity consumption.”

Mariusz Wójcik is responsible for offshore wind project development and consulting in the Baltics at Ramboll: „We are excited to be supporting Enefit Green in the development of this project and we have put together a dedicated and experienced international team to contribute to the success of the project. We are confident that the project will be an important step towards energy transition not only in Estonia but also for the Baltic States and the whole Europe.“

The Hiiu (or Loode-Eesti) offshore wind farm will be located about 12 km north of Estonia's second largest island, Hiiumaa. The farm has a production capacity of 1.1 gigawatts and an estimated annual production of up to 5 terawatt hours.