The Estonian Consumer Protection and Technical Regulatory Authority (TTJA) has initiated a building permit procedure and environmental impact assessment for two offshore wind farms more than 30 km west of Saaremaa Island. The project developer, Norwegian company Deep Wind Offshore AS, won the Saare 2.1 and Saare 2.2 offshore auctions in June.
According to the submitted applications, up to 104 turbines with a total capacity of up to 1,560 MW and up to four substations are planned in the Saare 2.1 area (163.8 km²), while in the Saare 2.2 area (88.5 km²), up to 56 turbines with a capacity of up to 840 MW and up to two substations are planned. Both areas are located in Estonia’s maritime spatial plan as suitable for offshore wind development.
Deep Wind Offshore, owned by Knutsen OAS, Haugaland Kraft, Sunnhordland Kraftlag and Octopus Energy, operates in Norway, Sweden and South Korea and plans to build 10 GW of offshore wind capacity by 2032.
After the procedures have been initiated, the company must submit an environmental impact assessment program within 18 months and a report within 24 months. Only then will the TTJA be able to issue a building permit, which will allow detailed design work to begin.
Currently, the TTJA has already selected four winners in maritime territory auctions and has initiated building permit and environmental impact assessment procedures 11 times. The authority emphasizes that all projects are being developed in compliance with environmental and construction requirements.
Source: Consumer Protection and Technical Regulatory Authority (TTJA), 25.09.2024.