The offshore wind project formerly known as Saare 1 has been rebranded as Avara, marking the next stage in the development of Estonia’s first potential floating wind farm, according to developer Oxan Energy and partners Ocean Connect Energy and SNOW.
Located 60 km off the west coast of Saaremaa Island, the 88km² project is designed to deliver up to 900MW of capacity-enough clean power to supply almost half of Estonia’s electricity demand, or around 3.2TWh annually.
The new name, derived from the Estonian word avar meaning open and vast, “embodies the project’s forward-looking and innovative spirit,” said the consortium.
“Avara offshore wind farm has a huge potential to drive innovation forward and to become the first floating offshore wind farm in the Baltics,” said Nikon Vidjajev, development director of the Avara project.
The scheme, which could combine floating and bottom-fixed technologies in waters 35–85 metres deep, is now in the permitting and environmental assessment phase launched by Estonian authorities in June 2025.
Avara’s developers said the focus is on finalising the environmental impact programme, refining technical design, and continuing dialogue with local and European stakeholders.
Beyond its technological ambitions, Avara aims to strengthen regional cooperation and reinforce the Baltic Sea’s role in Europe’s clean energy transition, they added.