EU RED III target: at least two cross-border offshore wind projects by 2030
Article 9 of RED III requires all Member States to launch at least two cross-border renewable energy joint projects by 2030. ELWIND, a joint project between Latvia and Estonia, is currently the main contender for this status in the Baltic Sea context. The project potentially serves as a pilot initiative that could attract EU support, provided that it fully meets the criteria of the directive – an officially designated renewables acceleration area, a coordinated single contact point structure and a transparent licensing procedure in both countries. While Estonia is moving towards a single contact point and the digitization of licenses, Latvia has not yet adopted a specific law regulating offshore wind energy. In addition, there is no clear division of institutional responsibilities, which hinders cross-border synchronization. Without these components, ELWIND remains a plan rather than a real joint project within the meaning of RED III. This also raises the question of whether a second cross-border offshore wind project in the region will be identified and implemented by 2030.