The Estonian government authorised a new renewable energy auction aimed at adding up to 2 terawatt hours of domestic electricity production to the national grid by 2030.
The initiative targets the rapid expansion of onshore wind capacity to reduce Estonia’s reliance on energy imports. Onshore wind is particularly vital for the country during the autumn and winter periods when solar output is lower. Currently, the country imports approximately one-third of its electricity from neighbouring nations.
The auction will initially support 1 terawatt hour of annual production, with the potential to double that volume. In a move to support local communities, the government is also developing a planning measure that links financial support for municipalities to the total capacity of turbines installed in their areas. The Minister of Energy and Environment is tasked to formally launch the auction process within the coming weeks.
“To become energy independent and keep prices affordable, we must rapidly build new, future-proof production facilities in Estonia,” said Minister of Energy and Environment Andres Sutt. “Onshore wind farms play a very important role in this new, diverse production portfolio. The auction decided today provides a signal for developers to plan, and as a country, we are moving firmly towards a transition to more affordable and sustainable electricity.”