Estonia issues first permit for construction of an offshore windfarm

The permit will be issued to Saare Wind Energy OÜ, which plans to build a windfarm on the west coast of Saaremaa.

Undersecretary of State for Energy and Mineral Resources Jaanus Uiga said, “This is the first building permit in the history of Estonian offshore wind – it is an important step towards clean energy production.”

Saare Wind Energy is seeking a permit to build an offshore windfarm consisting of up to 100 turbines, more than 11 km from the west coast of Saaremaa. The maximum capacity of the windfarm will be 1.4 GW. It could start generating electricity in the early 2030s.

The building permit is valid for 50 years and gives the developer the right to build an offshore windfarm along with the necessary infrastructure. The award of a permit from the government enables Saare Wind Energy to embark on the next regulatory step in the process, and apply for a construction permit from the Consumer Protection and Technical Surveillance Authority and an environmental permit for special water use from the Environmental Board.

Saare Wind Energy must apply for a construction permit, which is generally valid for five years, and finally for an occupancy permit, within two years of the issuance of the building permit. The building permit also includes specific environmental mitigation measures the developer must comply with. 

Issuing a building permit does not mean the project will receive state support because the permit is necessary regardless of possible support measures.

In addition to Saare Wind Energy’s plans for its windfarm, the Estonian state has initiated building permit procedures for 11 more offshore windfarms, submitted by OÜ Utilitas Wind, Five Wind Energy OÜ, Tuuletraal OÜ, UAB Ignitis Renewables Projektai 6, Liivi Offshore OÜ, the Environmental Investment Center Foundation (ELWIND), and Tuul Energy OÜ.