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Wind Power News: Estonia
These news and opinion items are gathered by National Wind Watch in its noncommercial educational mission 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. The original articles, links to which are provided, may have additional links and photos and other media that were not included here.
Opposition: Energy decisions should not be made on ideological grounds
Opposition politicians find the coalition’s energy policy decisions ideological and unable to bring down the cost of electricity. During ETV’s “Esimene stuudio” debate on Wednesday, members of Estonia’s government coalition argued that delays in renewable energy decisions have contributed to the country’s high electricity prices. However, they believe that a recent energy agreement between the leaders of the three coalition parties will help bring prices down. Minister of Health and Social Protection Riina Sikkut (Social Democratic Party) emphasized the importance . . . Complete story »
Coalition votes to hold wind farms discussion behind closed doors
The Riigikogu Anti-Corruption Select Committee had planned to publicly discuss the transparency of subsidies for wind farm construction and their impact on electricity prices on Monday but decided to hold the meeting behind closed doors. The Anti-Corruption Select Committee consists of six members, with half representing the coalition (Eerik-Niiles Kross, Irja Lutsar and Eduard Odinets) and the other half from the opposition (Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart, Rain Epler and Priit Sibul). The committee voted against making the session public. A total of . . . Complete story »
Defense forces: Wind farms reduce Estonia’s defense capacity
Wind farms reduce Estonia’s defense capability as they can shorten the early warning time, make it harder to acquire intelligence data and use weapon systems, say high-ranking commanders. Earlier this month, the Swedish government said that it will no longer issue licenses for the construction and operation of offshore wind farms around its coast. The Swedish Armed Forces have said offshore wind disrupts sensors and radars, among other things, and thus damages the country’s defense capabilities. Officials from the Estonian . . . Complete story »
Häädemeeste residents view planned offshore wind farm negatively
Residents and even the local government leader of Häädemeeste Municipality in southwestern Estonia view negatively a planned major offshore wind farm which once up and running could cover as much as half of Estonia’s electricity needs. The local residents say the project will harm fishing and tourism. The Ministry of Regional Affairs has proposed initial route corridor options for a power cable connection to the planned the Liivi lahe offshore wind farm. Wind farm developer Enefit Green has carried out . . . Complete story »
Ministries arguing over wind turbine fee for fishing sector
The Ministry of Rural Affairs has turned to the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications (MKM) as it finds the latter has ignored prior agreements concerning compensation for the fishing sector in draft legislation regulating wind turbine fees. Draft legislation to reduce Estonia’s dependence on natural gas, currently in its second reading in the Riigikogu, has been complemented with proposed amendments to the Environmental Charges Act that include compensation for fishing companies as part of wind farm toleration payments if . . . Complete story »
Latvia rejects Orsted offshore wind farm plan
Orsted’s application to develop an offshore wind farm in Latvian waters has been rejected by Latvia’s Ministry of Economics and State Chancellery. The planned project, which was to be developed adjacent to Enefit’s Liivi project in Estonian waters, has been rejected while the Latvian and Estonian authorities search for a suitable location for the Elwind project. Enefit will continue to develop the Liivi offshore wind farm in Estonia, said chief executive Hando Sutter. Orsted head of markets for the continental . . . Complete story »
Gallery: Wind turbine snaps at Saaremaa wind farm
A wind turbine at the Sõnajalg-owned Salme Wind Farm in Saaremaa snapped on Tuesday. No people were injured in the incident. “The accident is no big deal,” Andres Sõnajalg told Delfi (link in Estonian). “We’ll repair it and it will work again.” The turbine in question is an older generation wind turbine produced by Enercon. According to Sõnajalg, the technology used by their Eleon turbines is new and better protected against such situations. [rest of photos available at source] Complete story »
Islanders concerned about effects of large wind farms
Residents living on Saaremaa’s Sõrve Penninsular are concerned about the impact of large-scale sea wind farms planned for the area in the coming years. Planning permission has already been given to build 100 wind turbines in the Baltic Sea off the south coast of Saaremaa but residents say they do not know what effect they will have on the environment on their living space. But developers would already like to double the size of the initial plans. If the current . . . Complete story »
Supreme Court: Developing wind energy in significant public interest
The Supreme Court of Estonia has ruled that wind-farm developing is of significant public interest, and that arguments that existing activities in an area planned for a renewable energy site, such as peat-cutting, do not mean that a wind-farm project should be off the table. In the ruling Wednesday, the court found also that state institutions and municipalities must both make viable the relevant planning and establishment of a wind-farm. Planning applications and other issues have mired at least one . . . Complete story »
Supreme Court: Defense reason enough for limiting wind farm developments
The Supreme Court has decided that it is permissible to restrict wind farm developments following national defense considerations. The court found no unconstitutional aspects in legal acts Toila Rural Municipality relied on when refusing a wind farm construction permit. At the heart of the matter was the decision of the Toila Rural Municipality to refuse a building permit for the Päite-Vaivina wind farm. Est Wind Power OÜ applied for a permit for 28 wind turbines in March of 2016. The . . . Complete story »