GORIO: on the way for an Offshore Wind Farm in the Gulf of Riga

Supported with a total of EUR 99,000, GORIO is ran and coordinated by Eesti Energi, a public limited energy company in Estonia.

The project aims to develop, build, and operate (together with partners) up to 2GW of cross-border offshore wind farms in the Gulf of Riga area located in Estonian and Latvian waters.

The EU funding will allow the beneficiary to conduct a study that will support the ongoing environmental impact assessment with technical data regarding turbines, foundations, connection cable lines, construction methodologies and other necessary data. Moreover, the study will update the cost estimate as well as operational expenditure estimate of the wind farm.

The project will be developed in two phases:

Currently, the Conceptual Engineering Study (Pre-FEED) and permitting of 1GW is ongoing in Estonia thanks to CEF funding. The Estonian part secured the exclusive research license for the 183 km2 Estonian site regarding the initiation of superficies license process.

The pre-FEED study on the Estonian side will support the ongoing environmental impact assessment (EIA) with technical data regarding the turbines, foundations, connection cable lines, construction methodologies and other necessary data. Moreover, the pre-FEED study will update the cost estimate as well as operational expenditure estimate of the wind farm.

The scope of focus of the pre-FEED study is:

• Basic Site Conditions Assessment.
• Investigation of available technologies.
• Conceptual design for the grid connection.
• Cost estimate for the selected concept.
• Scope of activities for next phase of engineering design (FEED).

The Pre-FEED study is crucial to evaluate the financial feasibility of the hybrid offshore wind park project in the Gulf of Riga.  As a result of the study, the Estonian project promoter will define the overall technical concept of the planned offshore wind farm, take it as a basis for further studies -such as cost benefit.

If the study’s outcome is positive and the project will be ultimately carried out, the hybrid offshore wind farms with a RES capacity of up to 2 GW and interconnecting Estonia and Latvia could start their commercial operations by 2030. This will significantly improve both countries’ security of energy supply.