Estonian-Latvian Researchers Study Gulf of Riga Offshore Wind Potential

Since Monday, the research group has been conducting observation flights over the Gulf of Riga, including the island of Saaremaa and Ruhnu, with the task of the Estonian-Latvian Cooperation Program to identify suitable sites for a future offshore wind farm construction, reports Saarte Hääl.

“The aim is to map, together with Latvians, the locations of birds and seals and conduct wind and ice measuring in the Livonian Bay to find out where it would be most favorable to build open sea wind energy parks in the Livonian Bay,” said Agriculture and Environment Life Sciences Institute researcher Leho Luigujõe. His research group will map the populations of birds and count seals.

The first flight took place last summer and autumn and the last one will take place in April.

This project is financed by the Estonia-Latvia Program and Environmental Investment Centre (KIK), Estonia. The Estonia – Latvia Program is implemented according to the principles of the European Territorial Cooperation and it supports cross-border cooperation between Estonia and Latvia. It is funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the Republic of Estonia and the Republic of Latvia.

[mappress]

Offshore WIND staff, February 03, 2012; Image: gorwind