Parnu opens proceeding for spatial plan for Enefit Green wind farm
EWEA news, EWPA news, EWPA's blog, Uncategorized - Tuul June 22, 2020
The council of Parnu on Thursday ruled in favor of an application by Enefit Green to initiate the preparation of a designated spatial plan and a strategic environmental assessment to ascertain whether a marshy area in Paikuse rural municipality district, about 20 kilometers from the city of Parnu, is suitable for building a wind farm.
Enefit Green, renewable energy arm of the state-owned Eesti Energia group, submitted the application to the council of Parnu in March.
As the next step, a strategic environmental assessment will be conducted during which it will be ascertained whether the area includes protected species, and whether the wind farm and its infrastructure have an effect on their natural environment and habitat. The studies are expected to last about three years, during which the local residents will also be repeatedly involved. Based on the results of the studies, it will become clear whether and on which conditions it is possible to establish a wind farm in the area.
According to current plans, the wind farm consisting of up to seven turbines is to be built near Polendmaa village in the Paikuse subdistrict of Parnu County. In addition, Enefit Green submitted a request to the Tori municipality earlier this week to initiate a similar designated spatial plan procedure also in that municipality to potentially extend the wind farm project by up to three more wind turbines located in the territory of the Tori municipality.
Aavo Karmas, chairman of the management board of Enefit Green, welcomed the decision of the Parnu City Council.
“I thank Parnu city government for the very positive cooperation so far. This development is the third wind farm development project in Estonia initiated by Enefit Green during the last year. In addition to Paikuse subdistrict in Parnu county, we also have development projects in Laane-Nigula municipality in Laane County and Saarde rural municipality in Parnu County. Even if only some of these wind farm projects are completed, it will be a very important breakthrough, and change of direction towards producing green energy in Estonia,” the CEO said.
“Despite the climate policy requiring cleaner energy production, the last major wind farms here were completed more than seven years ago. If Estonia as a country wants to reach its renewable energy goals, building of new wind farms is inevitable,” Karmas said.
“We understand that building of the wind farm requires the support of local residents and we are open to sharing information about the project throughout the process and answering all questions. During the initial steps of the development, we have worked closely together with the local governments and have already met with the local communities. The response so far has been encouraging. It is also helpful that people understand the positive effect of the wind farm on the local economy and labor market,” he added.
Eesti Energia has set the goal to increase the share of renewable energy in its production portfolio. The group aims to produce 43 percent of its energy production from renewable sources by 2024.
Enefit Green is a renewable energy company belonging to the Eesti Energia Group, that currently owns a total of 20 wind farms, four cogeneration plants, 36 solar power plants, a pellet plant and a hydroelectric power plant in four markets — Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland.
Tallinn newsroom, +372 610 8832, sise@bns.ee
Baltic News Service
Leave a Reply