European Energy opens construction on its first wind farm in Lithuania

On the 1st of June Danish green energy developer European Energy started constructing its first wind farm in Lithuania at Anyksciai. The wind farm will have 49.5 MW capacity and will be connected to the grid by 2021.

Lithuania’s energy composition will become greener in the future, when the 49.5 MW Anyksciai wind farm finishes construction. The construction process started the 1st of June with an opening ceremony at the wind farm, where the developer and independent power provider, European Energy, hosted an event with the attendance of the Lithuanian Minister of Energy Dainius Kreivys, the Danish Ambassador to Lithuania, Hans Brask and the Mayor of Anykščiai, Sigutis Obelevičius.

European Energy has developed the wind farm Anyksciai together with local partner East Wind Brokers. The park will grid connect by the end of 2021. When the wind farm is grid connected, it will be able to provide green electricity to 50.000 households. There will be nine 5.5 MW GE Cypress wind turbines at the site.

– We have an ambition to increase our local generation to 50 percent by 2025. Our new generation has to be green, and projects like this not only bring us one step closer to our goal, but also play an important part in strengthening our energy security, says Lithuanian Minister of Energy Dainius Kreivys.

Denmark is one of the leading countries in the world in terms of having fossil-free power in its electricity supply.

– Danish companies are world-leading in the green-tech area, and it is my pleasure to see that Lithuania has an interest in cooperating with Danish companies in combatting climate change and improving energy security, says Ambassador Hans Brask.

European Energy started developing renewable energy projects in Lithuania in 2018 and opened its office in Vilnius in 2019. With around 10 employees in Vilnius, European Energy has together with local partners developed a strong pipeline of green energy projects in Lithuania. In 2021, European Energy entered the largest ever PPA in the Baltics with 3,8 TWh for over 10 years with Eesti Energia. The PPA delivers 100% green energy with true additionality to the energy grid.

– We know that Lithuania has very high ambitions for the country to transition as fast as possible towards renewable energy but also towards energy self-sufficiency. This project in Anyksciai is our first wind farm project in the country, and I hope that European Energy can contribute even more to very positive agenda that the Lithuanian government has set, says Knud Erik Andersen, CEO of European Energy.

For the past years, Lithuania’s energy transition has been impressive. Lithuania’s share of renewables in its final energy consumption is now comparable to leading IEA countries and domestic renewable power generation is growing fast. Lithuania targets 100% of electricity from renewables by 2050, which will require electricity systems and markets to accommodate very high shares of variable renewable energy, notably onshore and offshore wind.