The consortium behind Estonia’s Saare 1 offshore wind project has welcomed the decision by national authorities to initiate the superficies licence and environmental impact assessment (EIA) processes.
Estonia’s Consumer Protection and Technical Regulatory Authority (CPTRA) formally launched proceedings following its January confirmation that Oxan Energy had won the auction for the 88km² Saare 1 area, located 60km west of Saaremaa Island.
The move allows developers Oxan Energy, Ocean Connect Energy and SNOW to progress with plans for up to 900MW of capacity at the site, which is designated as an innovation zone in Estonia’s maritime spatial plan.
“We are committed to a transparent, environmentally responsible development path, working closely with local communities, regulators, and stakeholders,” said the consortium.
The project may deploy a mix of fixed-bottom and floating foundations to accommodate water depths of up to 85m.
Under CPTRA regulations, the EIA must be submitted within 18 months, with a full report due within 24 months.
Final layout and turbine numbers will be confirmed following technical studies and environmental evaluations.