Another order for battery trains for Škoda Group. Up to 16 units will be delivered to Latvia
Latvia is preparing for another significant step in the modernisation of its rail transport. Autotransporta direkcija (ATD) announces that Škoda Group has been awarded with the contract to supply up to 16 battery electric multiple units (BEMUs) for regional transport.
The value of the contract comprising of the base delivery of nine trains, an option for seven additional vehicles, spare parts and training is nearly EUR 160 million. The first vehicles are scheduled to be deployed in the first half of 2029. Following the successful launch of battery trains in the Czech Republic at the turn of 2024 and 2025 and the signing of a contract for up to 36 battery trains for Slovakia, this is another order for the Škoda Group for this type of vehicle.
The units will also be the first Škoda Group battery-powered vehicles designed for a 1,520 mm gauge. They represent the next evolution of the successful platform of single-deck regional trains developed for the Baltic markets. The project is financed by the state budget of Latvia and EU Cohesion Funds, which are supporting the development of modern zero-emission mobility in Latvia.
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Originally published on 11 Dec
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Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania have successfully synchronised their electricity systems with the Continental Europe Synchronous Area on 9 February 2025 at 2:05 PM. This is a key milestone for the Baltic States and for Europe strengthening the energy resilience and independence across the region.
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Originally published on 9 Feb
On February 20-21 in Stockholm, Techarena 2025 will gather +12,000 business leaders, founders, investors, and decision-makers to explore and discuss global trends, emerging technologies, the startup ecosystem, and the future of industries. Ticket holders will have access to an insightful panel discussion on the future of DefenceTech. Moderated by Ms Kadri Tammai, Regional Director of NATO DIANA, the panel will feature the Minister of Economy and Industry of Estonia, Mr Erkki Keldo, Head of Strategy and Portfolio at Saab Surveillance, Mr Hampus Delin, and Deputy Chief Sales Officer at Milrem Robotics, Mr Stefan Behre.
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Originally published on 6 Feb
After months of preparation, a fleet of 11 specialised vessels has mobilised to begin installing the foundations for Poland’s first offshore wind farm in the Baltic Sea. This stage has already seen the successful installation of the first two of a total of 78 monopiles – towering 100-metre steel structures that will support 15 MW wind turbines. These generation units are among the most advanced in the industry, with a portion being manufactured at Vestas’ facility in Szczecin. With a total capacity of 1.2 GW, the Baltic Power wind farm is set to commence operations in 2026, delivering clean, reliable electricity capable of powering over 1.5 million households. Offshore wind is a key element of the ORLEN Group’s new strategy, which targets the deployment of more than 4 GW of installed capacity in the Baltic Sea in partnership with leading industry players.
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Originally published on 6 Feb
Estonia and the other Baltic States will disconnect from the Russian-run electricity network on Saturday and connect to the Continental European Synchronous Area on Sunday. The main goal of connecting to the European electricity system is to make our electricity system stronger and ensure energy independence and security.
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Originally published on 5 Feb
The Baltic Startup Funding Report by Change Ventures and FIRSTPICK is a semi-annual publication of detailed data about funding rounds for startups in the Baltics, including companies with HQs elsewhere but with a dominant base in Estonia, Latvia, or Lithuania.
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Originally published on 5 Feb
Enable Banking and Qred announce a strategic partnership to revolutionize financing for entrepreneurs. By leveraging real-time financial data and seamless account-to-account payments, Qred enhances credit decisions and operational efficiency. This collaboration highlights the transformative power of open banking in supporting small businesses, enabling them to grow, invest, and expand with ease.
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Originally published on 31 Jan
Today, the Commission has registered ‘Aglonas maizes veistūklis’ from Latvia as Protected Geographical Indications (PGI). ‘Aglonas maizes veistūklis’ is a rye bread with pieces of dried pork fat and onions baked into it. The method used to produce the bread and the recipe have been preserved and have not changed since the end of the 19th century. It still has to be prepared by hand, starting with the preparation of the flour, the kneading of the rye dough, the shaping of ‘Aglonas maizes veistūklis’, the filling of the dough and the baking of the bread. The reputation of ‘Aglonas maizes veistūklis’ stems mainly from the tradition, passed down within families from generation to generation, of baking the bread in brick ovens.
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Originally published on 31 Jan
The European Investment Bank (EIB) signed an agreement to support Poland’s largest utility Polska Grupa Energetyczna (PGE) with a €400 mln loan towards the design and construction of Baltica 2, the European Union’s largest offshore wind farm to date. Baltica 2 will feature innovative technology for a 1.5 GW capacity and sit off the Polish coast in the Baltic Sea. Supported by major European funding, it is being developed by PGE and leading offshore wind company, Denmark’s Ørsted.
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Originally published on 30 Jan
The Commission will allocate almost €1.25 billion in grants from the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) to 41 cross-border energy infrastructure projects, which have obtained the status of Projects of Common Interest and Projects of Mutual Interest (PCIs and PMIs) in 2024 under the Trans-European Networks for Energy (TEN-E) policy framework.
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Originally published on 30 Jan
Lithuanian company Ulsontech has attracted interest from businesses not only in Europe but also in Asia with its innovative ultrasound solutions. Successfully entering international markets, the company’s CEO, Dr. Vykintas Samaitis, highlights that this achievement is the result of consistent effort and the adoption of new digitization solutions supported by the European Digital Innovation Hub EDIH4LT and the Innovation Agency Lithuania.
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Originally published on 28 Jan