Estonia has ambitious climate goals, and is ready to back them with action. This week has seen the opening of one of the largest solar parks in the Baltics, inaugurated on Thursday in Lääneranna Municipality, Pärnu County.
The Kirikmäe solar park, a collaborative project between Estonian energy company Evecon and French investment fund Mirova, marks a new milestone in the region’s renewable energy landscape, boasting more than impressive statistics. It’s also a great example of the impact of international cooperation and FDI. The Kirikmaë Park is owned by the Baltic Renewable Energy Platform (BREP), a joint venture set up by Evecon and Mirova in December 2022 for the financing, construction, and operation of a portfolio of more than 100 MWp of solar parks in Estonia.
With a production capacity of over 77 megawatts between 117,000 panels, the newest park covers over 110 hectares and can cover the annual energy needs of up to 35,000 households. It’s twice the size of Estonia’s previous largest solar park, and with all that immense power, it was completed in just six months. For such a compact country, it’s nothing short of a game-changing addition — and may explain why it ranks in the top 10 for effective energy transition globally.
Evecon manager Karl Kull revealed that the Kirikmäe park is part of a broader initiative that includes two other recently opened solar parks in Viljandi and Järva County. While the exact cost of the Kirikmäe park wasn’t disclosed, Kull mentioned that the total investment for all three parks amounts to €72M.
Despite the current solar energy boom in Estonia (you can even get solar-powered roof tiles for your home!), Kull remains confident about the long-term viability of the investment. “We make these investments with a view of several years and several decades. Their lifespan is already 25 years today. This is a normal perspective of the energy cycle,” he stated.
The more immediate impact of these solar parks on Estonia’s energy market is substantial, too. Kull highlighted that with the addition of the recently opened Imavere and Lohu forest solar parks to the Kirikmäe solar park, more than 100 MW of production capacity has been introduced to the Estonian energy market within just one week. Another winner is the local community. “The municipality receives 0.6% of the revenues generated by the park”, explains Kull.
“The use of solar energy has grown rapidly in Estonia. In 2020, we started with almost no capacity, but now we rank sixth in the European Union in terms of solar panel capacity per capita. Our goal is clear – by 2030, the electricity we consume must come from renewable sources. Solar energy, which is currently also offering the most affordable electricity, makes an important contribution to achieving this goal.” said Climate Minister Yoko Alender.
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