Market study on offshore wind export opportunities in Baltic States

Wind energy – Baltic States

On the first quarter of 2021, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands commissioned BLIX to conduct a market study on offshore wind energy in the Baltics: ‘Export markets assessment for the Dutch offshore wind industry: Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania’.

For each of the three Baltic States countries, BLIX assessed the policy and regulatory environment, the offshore grid infrastructure plan, maritime spatial plan, the offshore wind value and supply chain, and current development activities.

The purpose of the study is to inform Dutch companies who are active in the offshore wind energy business and who seek opportunities in the Baltic States.

All Baltic States -Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania- were assessed separately. BLIX concluded that especially Estonia and Lithuania have ambitious renewable targets until 2030.

BLIX sees great opportunity for the Dutch offshore wind industry, especially for businesses focussing on transport and installation, foundations, site studies and R&D services. BLIX also found the export market value potential for Estonia to be at 10-18 billion EUR, and around 4 billion EUR for Lithuania.

The biggest challenge however is the needed offshore grid, especially since the Baltic States transmission system operators prioritise grid desynchronisation with Russia and synchronisation of their onshore grid with Europe. The first offshore grid initiatives have been taken, but rapid follow-up with concrete steps is necessary to be able to connect the first offshore wind farms in 2030.

Due to the current absence of operational offshore wind energy projects in the Baltic States and the limited local knowledge regarding offshore wind development, it is expected that players in the offshore wind industry from other European Union countries will play an important role in the realisation of future projects in these countries.

The full report, including a breakdown of all calculations and all results, can be found here.

Original Source: https://ocean-energyresources.com/2021/05/21/market-study-on-offshore-wind-export-opportunities-in-baltic-states/