Wind Power News: Estonia
These news and opinion items are gathered by National Wind Watch to help keep readers informed about developments related to industrial wind energy. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions of National Wind Watch. They are the products of and owned by the organizations or individuals noted and are shared here according to “fair use” and “fair dealing” provisions of copyright law.
Kihnu worried about large offshore wind farm planned near island
Residents of the Western Estonian island of Kihnu are not satisfied with the way preparations have begun for the construction of an offshore windfarm in Pärnu Bay by Enefit Green, the renewables subsidiary of the Estonian state-owned energy group Eesti Energia. Island residents believe that the Consumer Protection and Technical Regulatory Authority (TTJA) has not adhered to all necessary procedures in drawing up an environmental impact assessment. “We were frustrated by the activities of the TTJA – how it has operated . . . Complete story »
Opposition MP: No subsidy for Tootsi wind farm would be better for consumer
State-owned energy group Eesti Energia relinquishing renewable energy support for the Tootsi wind farm would mean consumers having to pay €288 million less in renewable energy fees over a period of 12 years, Social Democratic Party (SDE) MP Lauri Läänemets says. The parliament is scheduled to discuss an SDE bill on Monday that is aimed at preventing an increase in the price of electricity for consumers, spokespeople for opposition party said. The bill proposes that the government oblige Eesti Energia . . . Complete story »
Blades must be removed from turbines at Aidu wind farm
The Consumer Protection and Technical Surveillance Authority (TTJA) on Monday ordered Andres and Oleg Sõnajalg, of Eleon Green OÜ, to remove blades from a wind turbine erected in Aidu Wind Park, which disrupts the operation of the national defense early warning system. Since March 2019, the TTJA has conducted a monitoring procedure of Eleon Green OÜ at Aidu Wind Park. It has analyzed the impact assessments of the wind turbines provided by the developer, considered compromise proposals and repeatedly reviewed . . . Complete story »
Wind farm developers not interested in helping pay for new radars
An idea was pitched in the Renewable Energy Support Group of the Riigikogu that wind energy companies could potentially pay for new radars in part themselves. Developers, however, are not interested in the prospect. While an Estonian Defense Forces (EDF) radar scheduled to be completed in 2024 will expand scope of territory where new wind farms may be built in the future, this still won’t be enough in the future. For example, a large part of Ida-Viru County in Northeastern . . . Complete story »
Half of Ida-Viru County still off-limits to wind farms with new radar
According to a map drawn up by the Ministry of Defence detailing parts of the country suitable for the development of onshore wind farms, the eastern half of Ida-Viru County would remain off-limits to wind farms even after an additional new radar is completed in 2024 – the absence of which had impeded their construction in the first place. Highlighted as an additional new development area where it would be permitted to build wind turbines up to 150 meters in height . . . Complete story »
Estonian court: Prohibition on stay on Aidu wind farm is valid
The first-tier Tartu Administrative Court decided with a ruling on Thursday that it will not review the application by the developers of the Aidu wind farm for preliminary legal protection, thus the prohibition on staying in the wind farm’s territory is still valid, Baltic News Service reports. The court ruling has not entered into force and can be contested within 15 days, the Police and Border Guard Board (PPA) said. The Tartu Administrative Court with a ruling on July 23 . . . Complete story »
Aidu wind farm court reaction: Owners triumphant, authorities unimpressed
As reported on ERR News the Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that construction permits for the proposed Aidu wind farm in Lüganuse are valid, ruling against the justice ministry. While Oleg and Andres Sõnajalg, the two brothers behind the project, have claimed a victory, noting that now all that needs to be done is count the cost of a legal battle and delays in construction going back to 2017, the Ministry of Defense says the Supreme Court’s decision is not substantive. . . . Complete story »
Aidu wind farm permits are valid, Supreme Court rules
Construction permits issued to Aidu Wind Park in Ida-Viru County are valid, the Supreme Court ruled on Tuesday, dismissing the case brought by the Ministry of Justice in 2017. In April 2017, the governor of Ida-Viru County submitted a protest to the Tartu Administrative Court in which the governor asked for the permits issued by the rural municipality government of Lüganuse allowing for Aidu Tuulepark OÜ to construct a wind farm in the area to be annulled. The Supreme Court . . . Complete story »
Environmental activists: No legal basis for establishing Northwestern Estonian wind farm
At a meeting with representatives of Estonian state-owned energy group Eesti Energia’s renewable energy subsidiary Enefit Green this week, environmental protection NGO Hiiu Tuul emphasized that there is no legal basis for establishing a Northwestern Estonian coastal waters wind farm, reported LETA/BNS. Enefit Green has submitted to public display an environmental impact assessment of a Northwestern Estonian coastal waters wind farm, according to which the company is planning an up to 1,100 megawatt off-shore wind farm near the island of . . . Complete story »
Defense ministry recoursing to Supreme Court in long-running wind farm case
The long-running legal battle concerning the construction of a wind farm in eastern Estonia has seen the second-tier circuit court in Tartu uphold an earlier decision by the administrative court, to annul building permits for the project. The case has involved no less than three ministries: Defense, environment and justice, and seems likely to go to the highest-tier Supreme Court in an effort to block the wind farm’s construction, BNS reports. Additionally, local authorities both at county and municipality level, . . . Complete story »
