Renewable energy company Enefit Green has agreed on cooperation with the largest private forest owner in Latvia Southern Latviato develop two potential wind farm projects in the east of the country.
According to the agreements signed this week Enefit Green will have the right to use Southern Latvia land owned by the company for the establishment of wind farms.
Aavo Kärmas, Chairman of the Board of Enefit Green, explains that Latvia, like other neighboring countries, needs to increase the production of renewable energy. “Sustainable and environmentally friendly wind energy is beneficial and at the same time supports both Latvia’s climate goals and energy security. The development of wind farms in Latvia is an important part of Enefit Green’s long-term growth plan, and we hope to continue cooperating with Latvia’s largest forest owner, ”said Kērmass.
Long-term land use rights are the first step in preparing for the construction of wind farms. “Currently, we plan to start communication with the relevant institutions and local governments, which will be followed by an environmental impact assessment. We anticipate that the coordination and research phase may take at least three years, but this period may be affected by the Latvian government’s decision to simplify procedures and regulations for renewable energy development projects, ”added Kermas.
“Södra is pleased to be working with Enefit Green, which has proven to be a reliable wind energy developer. We hope that the planned projects will be successful, enabling us to support the creation of new green energy production opportunities in the region. The establishment of new wind farms is an important step towards our energy independence and meeting our climate goals, ”says Lars-Georg Adolf Hedlund, Member of the Board of Södra Latvia.
Enefit Green is one of the leading and most versatile renewable energy producers in the Baltic Sea region, producing a total of 1,193 gigawatt hours of electricity and 618 heat in 2021. In Latvia, the company operates two cogeneration power plants that produce heat in Valka and Brocēni, transferring the produced electricity to the Latvian electricity grid. The Enefit Green pellet plant also operates in Brocēni.
Enefit Green is currently building four wind farms with a total capacity of 200 megawatts. Two of them are made in Lithuania, one in Estonia and one in Finland. The total investment in these projects amounts to almost 260 million euros. Poland, on the other hand, is building two solar parks with a total capacity of 15 megawatts.
Enefit Green is also developing several projects in the field of wind and solar energy in Latvia in order to increase the availability of environmentally friendly and sustainable energy.
The Södra Group is one of the largest forest owners in Latvia, managing a total of 127,266 ha of land, of which more than 100,084 ha are forests.
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