Posts Tagged ‘energy’
Mirova and Evecon’s Baltic Renewable Energy Platform (BREP) launches Estonia’s largest solar‑plus‑storage hybrid project, signs first-of-its-kind Flexibility & Power Purchase Agreement in the Baltics with Pure Energy, and secures long-term financing from Swedbank
Mirova, an affiliate of Natixis Investment Managers dedicated to sustainable investing, and Evecon announce a series of major milestones supporting the acceleration of Estonia’s energy transition, through their jointly owned Baltic Renewable Energy Platform OÜ (“BREP”):
- Hybridization of the 77.5 MWp Kirikmäe Solar Photovoltaic (PV) plant with a 55 MW / 250 MWh Battery Energy Storage System (BESS),
- Execution of the first Flexibility & Power Purchase Agreement (FPPA) ever signed in the Baltics, with Pure Energy GmbH, and
- Completion of a new c.€85 million long‑term financing package from Swedbank.
Together, these developments demonstrate how combining renewable generation with energy storage and long term optimization tools can unlock new value for the Baltic energy market and support Estonia’s long term energy independence.
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Originally published on 16 Feb
Read MoreStudents Join the “Setting the Course for Offshore” Program
Students from technical schools in the Pomeranian region, specializing in renewable energy, have embarked on a unique educational journey into the offshore wind industry. Launched by Equinor and Polenergia, the “Setting the Course for Offshore” program opens the door for young people to the world of offshore wind – one of the fastest-growing sectors of the Polish economy.
The program is delivered in cooperation with partners: Pomeranian Employers, the Polish Offshore Wind Energy Chamber, Rumia Invest Park, and the Pomeranian Offshore Renewable Energy Competence Centre.
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Originally published on 9 Feb
Read More”Offshore Power Plant” Baltic Sea significantly increases power generation
The offshore wind farms in the Baltic Sea fed around 5,400 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of electricity into the eastern German extra-high-voltage grid via the 50Hertz grid connection systems last year – about ten percent more than in the previous year. Over the course of 2025, the six currently operating offshore wind farms generated enough electricity to cover the annual consumption of the city of Leipzig and its surrounding region.
The reason for this increase is the continuous expansion of wind energy off the coast of the island of Rügen. Since last year, the Baltic Eagle wind farm (approx. 450 MW) has been feeding its full capacity into the grid via the Ostwind 2 connection system. Prior to that, the Arcadis Ost 1 wind farm (approx. 250 MW) went online. Wind yield amounted to 4,300 GWh in 2023 and 4,900 GWh in 2024.
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Originally published on 9 Feb
Read MoreDoldrums Offshore wind in Sweden is losing speed
Eolus, a Swedish renewable-energy firm, announced last week that it had given up all but one of its offshore wind projects in the country.
The decision was not due to a lack of wind resources; starting in 2021, Eolus began expanding its capacity after evaluating that offshore wind would be necessary—and sufficient—for Stockholm to achieve its power-production targets. Eolus eventually built up a portfolio of projects with a planned capacity of 8.8MW. It blames a slow pace of electrification, as well as regulatory barriers and a lack of political support for making offshore wind unprofitable.
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Eolus is not alone in its assessment. Earlier this month, RWS, a German firm, sold its Swedish offshore activities, stating that it was looking for a more dynamic market.
On paper, at least, Sweden fits that bill: it is already one of Europe’s largest onshore producers, and, with coastlines along both the North and Baltic seas and an estimated potential in excess of 100MW, it could also be one of its largest offshore producers. That it is not on its way to being so stems, in part, from a 2024 decision by the government to cancel 13 wind farms planned for the Baltic, totalling 32MW and €47 billion in investments.
The cancellation was made due to concerns that Baltic windfarms would just be another target for Russian shenanigans, and that the decision was made on the advice of the military. The industry says that does not explain why Sweden fell behind in the first place.
Sweden, it points out has 0.2GW of offshore windfarms, while neighbouring Denmark has up 2.6GW up and running. It also points out that the other countries of the Baltic have been able to balance security concerns with energy needs—and indeed incorporate them.
Domestically, the 13 cancelled projects, all of them to have been built in the south, would have been a way for Sweden to balance its grid; currently, producers in the north, where there is a surplus, may only send a limited amount of power to the south, where consumption outstrips demand. By removing the targets, Sweden may be shooting itself in the foot.
Lithuania receives increased EIB Group financing of €577 million in 2025 with major defence, energy projects
The European Investment Bank (EIB) Group’s financing in Lithuania rose 29% to €577 million last year on the back of stepped-up support for security and defence in the country. The increase in 2025 also helped expand renewable energy and upgrade water networks in Lithuania.
The EIB Group’s activity in Lithuania last year represented 0.7% of its gross domestic product (GDP) and helped mobilise €1.4 billion in total investments – equivalent to 1.7% of GDP. The operations supported around 1,500 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and Mid-Caps and helped sustain more than 17,000 jobs across the country.
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Originally published on 30 Jan
Read MoreORLEN Neptun begins the preparation process of a service port for the Baltic West offshore wind farm
ORLEN Neptun has entered into a reservation agreement with the Kołobrzeg Sea Port Authority. The agreement includes the reservation of land in the Kołobrzeg Sea Port, which will enable the preparation of a service port for the operation of another ORLEN Group offshore wind farm developed within the phase II of offshore wind energy development – Baltic West.
Strengthening existing cooperation through the signed reservation agreement will enable analysis and development of the preliminary project documentation. This will allow to use the solutions best suited to the implementation of the offshore wind project – Baltic West. Gaining experiences such as this one can help unlock the port’s infrastructure potential for the implementation of future offshore wind projects in this part of the Baltic Sea.
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Originally published on 22 Jan
Read More€113 million in EU funding allocated to strengthen the resilience of Baltic and Polish electricity grids
The European Commission has allocated €113 million in funding from Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) for critical Synchronisation infrastructure protection implemented by the transmission system operators of Lithuania, Estonia, Latvia and Poland. The implementation of wider range of projects aimed at ensuring energy security against potential cyber and physical threats began on February 9 last year, following the successful synchronization of the Baltic States with the Continental European electricity network.
“Having successfully completed the synchronization project, the Baltic States and Poland continue to invest in energy independence and security. We are grateful to the European Commission for supporting our ambition to make the Baltic Sea region a model for strengthening the security and resilience of critical energy infrastructure across Europe. This funding is the result of our consistent efforts and sets a new precedent, as until now the European Union had no dedicated financing for the protection of critical energy infrastructure. By consistently applying the lessons learned from Ukrainian energy specialists, we are expanding the scope of protection for our critical energy infrastructure projects. We plan to apply for further funding for resilience projects and are actively working to ensure that a long-term EU-level instrument for financing critical energy infrastructure protection is established,” – said Žygimantas Vaičiūnas, Minister of Energy of the Republic of Lithuania.
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Originally published on 28 Jan
Read MoreFinal Agreement on the Bornholm Energy Island
At the North Sea Summit on January 26, Denmark and Germany took the final steps toward realizing the Bornholm Energy Island. At Baltic Energy Island, we are grateful and more than ready to move forward.
Denmark and Germany have agreed to share the costs of the support needed for offshore wind. The cost distribution reflects a fair balance between the benefits of the project and the expected allocation of green power.
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Originally published on 27 Jan
Read More50Hertz und Skyborn Renewables pave the way for the commissioning of the largest offshore wind project in the German Baltic Sea
By signing a contract governing the legally compliant cooperation for the construction and operation of the two offshore platforms required for the Gennaker offshore wind farm, transmission system operator 50Hertz and wind farm developer Skyborn Renewables (Skyborn) have cleared the way for commissioning the entire system by mid‑2028. The agreement resolves legal and regulatory uncertainties and sets a pioneering precedent for grid connection of an offshore wind farm located in territorial waters.
The Gennaker offshore wind farm, comprising 63 turbines of the 15‑MW class, will be built in German territorial waters (within the so‑called 12-nautical-mile zone) off the coast of the Fischland-Darß-Zingst peninsula. The project received full approval from the state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania in December last year. Installation of the wind turbines is scheduled to begin in late summer 2027. The cooperation agreement between 50Hertz and Skyborn now concluded represents an essential addition and prerequisite for the planned commissioning of the grid connection system in July 2028.
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Originally published on 27 Jan
Read MoreGreen land Denmark and Germany agree financing for Bornholm Energy Island
Denmark and Germany say they are ready to split the cost of any public funding needed to make sure that Bornholm Energy Island becomes a reality. Essentially a set of offshore windfarms that would double Denmark’s offshore wind capacity, the project, if completed, would send power to 4.5 million Danish and German consumers via its namesake island. More than that, say boosters, it provides a model for other mega energy projects that lawmakers are more keen on than investors.
Locally, the news has been well received. Even the healthiest of economies would find it hard to be unhappy about being the focal point of a multinational project whose final tab is expected to be over €4 billion. Bornholm, meanwhile, is still striken from the implosion of its fishing industry in the 1980s. But while a project of this sort will be good for its budding offshore industry, particularly if an associated industry estate comes to fruition, local lawmakers are still treading carefully: energy firms have yet to deem the project worth putting money into, while those living near the 111 hectare converter station will need be placated (read as: compensated). . Beyond that, there is irony of spoiling a chunk of pristine coastline of Denmark’s most popular tourism destination in the name of clean energy. If being a Danish island is a challenge these days, being a green one is doubly so.
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