Estonia received 17 bids for onshore wind areas, with state land leased for up to 40 years and the development procedures to be concluded in 1Q25, the energy ministry said.
- The exact locations, turbine numbers, and arrangements will be decided during local government planning and permitting procedures.
- Construction can only begin once the planning procedure is completed and permits are issued, which should take three years, according to the government.
- Developers must complete the planning process and obtain a building permit within this timeframe.
- If a permit is not obtained within three years, superficies agreements will not be granted.
- A fee model will govern the wind farm development process, with fees based on land area and a percentage of the land’s tax value during the development period.
- And during the operation period, fees will also include a production component based on the electricity producer’s annual revenue.
- The successful bidders will gain the right to use state-owned land to build and operate wind farms for up to 40 years.
- However, there were no bids were submitted for four areas - Valga-Torva, Torva, Laane-Nigula, Turiv- towards the south and west of Estonia.