The Ministry of Economy is advancing a bill to determine the status of an object of national interest for the ELWIND offshore wind farm project

Five years ago, the European-funded LIFE REEF research program was started in the Baltic Sea with a budget of 4 million euros. In order to precisely mark new protected marine areas, scientists carefully map what is visible under the water. In this place, one of the most ecologically significant types of habitats – stone shoals – has been discovered in large areas. Reefs are a favorite place for many underwater organisms. Various species of fish live there, but closer to the shore, algae, which are important for the environment, also grow on the rocks.

In the vicinity of the ELWIND project, unique underwater moraines have also been seen in the Alku shoal, which look like the second Staburag to the eye of the camera at a depth of 25 meters.

The area of ​​reefs in the ELWIND territory reaches 75 square kilometers. Waterfowl also feed on stone shoals. Ornithologists have found herons here in the winter, including terns, which get food by diving to a depth of 50-60 meters.

Ingrid Anderson

Leading researcher of the Latvian Institute of Hydroecology

“When we did biological studies and video surveillance, it all confirmed. The fact that down there are the protected habitats of European importance – rock shoals in the sea that perform the functions of these important ecosystem services. As a result, extremely interesting geological structures have been formed, which are like caves, formations where both fish like to hide and those mussels like to grow, it makes their environment more interesting. On the other hand, underwater moraines can be found up to 3-4 meters high. The dimensions are sometimes 60 m, sometimes even 100 meters. Because in length and width, quite impressive moraine clay structures, which one might say, are atypical for the Baltic Sea, but we have not found (it) on our coast so far.”

The area of ​​reefs in the territory of “Elwind” reaches 75 square kilometers. Waterfowl also feed on stone shoals. Ornithologists have found herons here in the winter, including terns, which get food by diving to a depth of 50-60 meters.

LIFE REEF researcher, ornithologist Pēteris Daknis is worried that the wind farm will harm bird habitats. “There’s this effect we call habitat loss. If these birds have previously fed in the winter at the feeders, and the wind farm appears there. It’s just that this place is no longer used for feeding. And this is the loss of wintering habitat,” says Daknis.

Researchers have found a significant number of small islands in the summer in the place where the wind farm is planned. “We have also found a very significant number of small plovers in the summer in this area. “What we have found during the censuses is 10 percent of the biogeographic population on the ground. It is clear that the actual number passing through there is much higher and it can be the entire population in a given year. And, for example, the little tern is a high-risk species directly in collision with wind rotors,”

LIFE REEF studies are planned to be completed in one and a half years. However, what was discovered in them will no longer have weight, because the LIFE REEF research area overlaps with the territory planned for the Latvian-Estonian ELWIND Offshore Wind Park.

Here, together with Estonia, Latvia plans to develop a joint ambitious green energy park. Latvia will carry out all the preparatory work and prepare the connection of the power transmission networks. Latvia plans to recoup the invested hundreds of millions in an auction in which the project would be sold to an investor.

Currently, the Ministry of Economy has decided, with the help of a special law, to determine the status of an object of national interest for the ELWIND wind farm project. This will allow economic activity to be carried out in the sea, despite the discovery of natural values.

Victor Valainis

Minister of Economy

“What we want to achieve with this law, we really want to outline a clear political direction. And also the scenario and timeline when this project could be realized. This project is extremely important for the entire Kurzeme region, as well as for the whole of Latvia. Especially for two cities Ventspils and Liepāja. We are already working with downstream investors with both of these cities. These are foreign investors. Who is talking about 500 billion investments. Which is directly subordinated to the ELWIND project, if it is implemented in the Baltic Sea, in this region.”

Although the spatial planning of the Latvian Sea allows wind farms to be built in five locations, the choice of the Elwind territory in front of Pāvilosta, Jūrkalne, Sārnatei was based on the feasibility study report of the “Pondera” company, which used outdated and incorrect data, which was also recognized by our officials. However, the report was accepted by the Ministry of Economy headed by the “National Union” at the time, and the Estonian government also gave the green light. Another location for this wind farm on the coast of Latvia is currently no longer being discussed, according to the project developer, the Latvian Investment and Development Agency.

Laura Štrovalde, deputy director of LIAA for investment and energy issues, explains that the reverse situation needs to be resolved now. “We have a Marine plan. Which demarcates the areas very clearly, we can only apply for a license in the wind farm research areas. We rely on this document, which was developed more than seven years ago. The result is that apparently it has not been done all the way there. Everyone already understands that this situation is not normal. And it has to be solved. Because the wind park is strategically important for Latvia,” emphasizes Štrovalde.

The bill of the Ministry of Economy is currently not coordinated by any ministry. Several non-governmental organizations oppose it, the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development has significant objections. It emphasizes that determining the status of an object of national interest before the LIFE REEF researchers have finished their work and before the Environmental Impact Assessment is completed is considered inconsistent with the Constitution.

Inga Bērziņa

VARAM Minister (“New Unity”)

“And only when this EIA procedure is completed, it will be possible to say how significant those natural values ​​really are and, if so, what are the compensatory mechanisms. Which is very important. There was just a verdict of the Constitutional Court regarding tree diameters. Once there, one of the criticisms was also not consulting the public. This judgment of the Constitutional Court is also important in terms of how much the public should be involved. And it should also be done in this case regarding the ELWIND project.”

When asked how he intends to adopt the bill to designate ELWIND as an object of national interest, Minister of Economy Viktors Valainis from ZZS states that currently this issue does not need to be discussed with other ministries.