Discussion starts on location of cable corridor for Gulf of Riga offshore farm

TALLINN - The site selection phase of the designated spatial plan for electricity connection routes of an offshore wind farm to be built by Enefit Green in the Gulf of Riga, which started in May, has reached the stage of sketching the first route options, with Sindi and Kilingi-Nõmme considered as potential locations where the connections would link up to the grid, Pärnu Postimees reported.

Homeowners affected by these potential route alternatives will be notified personally. Public meetings will be held in September to present the routes and gather feedback. At this stage, a connection via the Audru power substation is no longer being considered.

Anne Martin, adviser at the spatial planning department of the Ministry of Regional Affairs and Agriculture, said the aim of the spatial planning process is to find a route option that has a low impact on residents and the environment, while being economically feasible.

"More detailed information has been sent to the owners of the properties affected by the designated spatial plan in order to keep them constantly informed of the development of the project. Although the exact location of the route and the need for land are expected to be determined during the planning process by 2026, the initial alternatives already provide an idea of the future connections," Martin said.

A map application has been developed showing the initial routes of the connections. The Ministry of Regional Affairs and Agriculture is gathering residents' opinions, carrying out in-depth studies and carefully assessing the social, cultural, economic and environmental impacts.

Martin said it is important to organize the planning process in a collaborative and dialogue-based way, and to this end a series of meetings with locals have been scheduled.

Karmo Kõrvek, head of offshore wind energy development at Enefit Green, said the best alternative will emerge from a collaborative process, with input from local residents, businesses and authorities. The goal of the spatial plan -- to connect four terawatt hours of renewable energy to the Estonian grid by 2030 -- is ambitious, but possible with the cooperation of all parties, he added.

The location of electricity connections is likely to be decided by the government in 2026. This will be followed by a design phase, which will lay the foundation for the construction of the connection by 2030 at the latest.

The discussions will take place on Sept. 23 at 5 p.m. at the Paikuse rural municipality center, on Sept. 24 at 5:30 p.m. in the Häädemeeste community building, and on Sept. 25 at 5:30 p.m. at the Kilingi-Nõmme club.