Construction of a wind farm will start in Tārgale :: Dienas Bizness

A remote public discussion meeting will be held on January 25 at 4 pm on the intention of SIA “Laflora” to build a wind farm in Kaigu swamp, the company informs.

The Kaigu mire in Jelgava region has been managed for 25 years by one of the largest peat extraction and processing companies in Latvia – SIA “Laflora”, which employs about 250 local residents to produce peat substrates for horticulture, forestry and agriculture. The extraction of energy peat available in Kaigu mire has been stopped due to the condition of the European Commission’s Fair Restructuring Fund to stop the extraction and use of energy peat, therefore the company is looking for other uses of existing resources and land, including the creation of a wind farm.

In the wind farm Kaigu peat bog, the total area of ​​which is 760 ha, it is planned to stop the extraction of energy peat in the area of ​​450 ha (the remaining energy peat stock reaches 890,000 m3). The produced green energy, which is a renewable resource, will be used both for Laflora’s own consumption in the peat products and substrates production plant and technological processes, and for ensuring the functionality of the future green industrial zone in Kaigu mire. The wind farm is planned for the entire area of ​​the bog – both where the extraction of energy peat has been stopped and where the extraction of horticultural peat will continue, after which the territories will be recultivated.

The aim of the green industrial area is to provide innovative, energy-intensive, renewable energy companies with the Laflora wind farm, thus helping them to integrate renewable energy into their production processes and produce value-added products.

The company points out that the operation of such a green industrial zone will allow to develop sustainable business in Jelgava region and the whole Zemgale region, increase the competitiveness of companies due to lower energy costs, as well as create new sustainable jobs in the long run, creating preconditions for economic growth.

The park will have the latest generation of wind turbines, similar to those widely used throughout Europe. The maximum height of the turbines will be 247 m. The wind farm will produce 300,000 MWh of electricity per year. With such an amount of electricity, it is possible to provide 5% of Latvia’s total electricity consumption per year.

The park could provide green energy to both Jelgava region and the city. Thus, Jelgava region could become 100% renewable energy resources or the greenest region in Latvia. The wind farm will be the company’s contribution to the country’s goal of climate neutrality set by the European Union. The total carbon savings from Laflora’s green energy will be more than 2.8 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent by 2050.

In accordance with the strict regulatory framework, an international environmental consulting company has performed an environmental impact assessment of the proposed wind farm. The impact on the environment, nature and the surrounding population has been assessed by: ornithologist, bat expert, habitat expert, landscape architects, cultural heritage experts, hydrologists and geologists. Electromagnetic field expertise, noise expertise, shadow and flicker expertise from potential turbines, as well as risk analysis were also performed.

“We not only see ourselves as peat extractors and processors, producing the peat substrates needed to plant forests, flowers and, ultimately, delicious tomatoes and cucumbers around the world, but we also think about further land use. That is why we call our job swamp farming. “Laflora wind farm is a commercial project where the production of electricity does not require state or municipal subsidies, but we hope to attract the currently available investments offered by the European Union’s Green Exchange funding directions and available funding,” admits Uldis Ameriks, Chairman of the Board of Laflora Ltd.

The total planned investment in Laflora’s green industrial zone is 170 million euros, of which the investment in the wind farm is estimated at 120 million euros. Modern, energy-saving and environmentally friendly equipment and mechanisms in synergy with the efficient and sustainable use of land resources are Laflora’s contribution to achieving the ambitious goals of our country and humanity.

A public consultation on the environmental impact assessment of the plan will take place by 15 February. In accordance with the provisions of the Covid-19 Infection Management Act, the public consultation takes place in absentia.

The meeting will be recorded, and its recording will be available on the websites of SIA “Laflora”, SIA “Estonian, Latvian & Lithuanian Environment”, Jelgava municipality and Jelgava municipality until February 15. These websites will also provide access to the environmental impact assessment report and its summary.

Written proposals for the report may be submitted to the State Environmental Monitoring Bureau by 15 February.

It is planned that the construction of the wind farm could start in 2022.

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