Estonia-based, Utilitas, is developing Saare-Liivi project, an offshore wind scheme with a first phase installation capacity of 1,200 MW. Also in its team is Ramboll, a Danish consulting engineering group concerned with the pre-FEED study for the offshore wind farm. Finland-based Arenso also signed an agreement with Utilitas and joined the project as a designer earlier this year. Work started in February and ran through the end of July 2025. The wind farm will be constructed in the Gulf of Riga, and now aims for 2031 operational date.
In latest development, the European Commission also added the project in the cross-border renewable energy (CB RES) projects list. This status means eligibility for grants and invariably makes great play in the EU energy markets. The project supports Estonia’s 2030 goal of 100% renewable electricity and also greatly contributes to Latvia’s energy transition.
The Pre-FEED study
Ramboll’s analysis on the Saare-Liivi project gives outlook on the offshore wind farm’s technical and economic feasibility. The FEED study also supports the environmental impact assessment process that follows it. Additionally, surveys were already being conducted at the Saare-Liivi wind site as early as September 2022 to identify sediment types and structures.
In an October 2022 press statement, Liisa Mällo, Offshore Wind Development Manager at Utilitas, expressed optimism in the project. “With the first year of environmental studies soon to be completed, it is the right time to move forward with the development of technical solutions.”, Liisa said. “This is as well as pinpointing the most optimal wind turbine generators and foundation types for the offshore wind farm. Work on taking lead-in data from the environmental studies into account will also be added,” added the manager.
Projections for the Saare-Liivi offshore wind farm
As part of the FEED development, Ramboll also points towards the best wind turbines, foundation types, logistic solutions, port logistics. This is as well as other technical solutions under its contract with Utilitas.
The Danish engineering and consultancy firm also looked at an electrical solution concept. This included the location and technical parameters of the cables, as well as the location and size of the substations.
Ports play an important role in the development of the Saare-Liivi offshore wind farm. In line with this, Ramboll also examined the logistics of construction, as well as potential alternatives for construction, operation, and maintenance. Also included in the pre-FEED study were economic data and cost projections.
The geo-planning for the maritime area were adopted in 2017 and thence defined as best areas for offshore wind farms in the Gulf of Riga.
Construction permit for the wind farm
Utilitas applied for a building permit for the Saare-Liivi offshore wind farm in 2021. The Consumer Protection and Technical Supervision Agency (CPTRA), which looks after the state consent process, began the building permit procedure the same year. The project’s environmental impact assessment (EIA) was also approved by CPTRA in January 2023.
The developer is set to receive necessary construction permits this year, and eyes completion by 2028. As planned, Utilitas will install around 80 wind turbines with a total output of 1,200 MW and an annual electricity production of over 5 TWh in the first phase of development. This is according to the technical conditions issued by the transmission system operator.
