Latvia embarks on offshore wind voyage

Over the next two years, Van Oord will carry out preparatory works, including developing a business plan and helping with the technical design of the site.

Construction of the offshore wind support base will begin in the Outer Harbour of the Port of Liepaja in 2026, with plans to get it operating for the middle of 2027.

“The new terminal will address the lack of the port infrastructure capacity needed for the construction of wind farms in the Baltic Sea,” said a statement from the port. “Moreover, it is expected that the developed site will be used for handling other oversized cargoes as well as for industrial manufacturing purposes. The 55-hectare area will be created by reclaiming the dry land areas, thus establishing a new multifunctional cargo-handling infrastructure and also giving the opportunity to place new production and/or assembly facilities.”

The Outer Harbour, says the statement, is surrounded by breakwaters and equipped with three port gates, thus offering vast opportunities for the development of offshore wind and other energy projects.

The Baltic Sea is home to a growing number of offshore wind farms, but this is the first one under the flag of Latvia.