Vastavalt nimekirjale 08.09.2023 nr 6-3/23/4047-2
Läti „Lode“ tuulepargi projekti piiriülene
keskkonnamõju hindamine
Läti on piiriülese keskkonnamõju hindamise konventsiooni (Espoo konventsiooni) alusel
teavitanud Eestit „Lode“ tuulepargi projektist.
Arendaja Utilitas Wind Ltd kavandab rajada tuulepargi, mille täpne tuulikute arv, võimsus
ning paiknemine selguvad keskkonnamõju hindamise (KMH) menetluse käigus. Uuringuala
pindala on 1150 ha ning arendaja esmase analüüsi järgi võiks uuringualale hinnanguliselt
paigutada kuni 20 uuema põlvkonna suure võimsusega tuulikut. Kavandatava tegevuse
asukohaks on Lode ja Ipiki vallad Valmiera piirkonna haldusüksuses. KMH menetluses on
käimas programmi etapp (programm on koostamisel). Kirjale on lisatud Läti saadetud
arendaja ingliskeelne tegevusloa taotlus, milles kirjeldatakse projekti ja selle elluviimisega
kaasnevat keskkonnamõju.
Kliimaministeeriumi hinnangul on vajalik Eesti osalemine „Lode“ tuulepargi projekti
piiriülese keskkonnamõju hindamise menetluses. Arvestades Läti määratud
vastamistähtaega, ootame 29. septembriks 2023 põhjendatud arvamusi selle kohta, milline
oluline kahjulik piiriülene keskkonnamõju võib Eestile kaasneda, et Läti saaks sellega
arvestada KMH materjalide koostamisel. Palume arvamused esitada Kliimaministeeriumi
e-posti aadressil
[email protected].
Lugupidamisega
(allkirjastatud digitaalselt)
Taimo Aasma
Elurikkuse kaitse osakonna juhataja asekantsleri ülesannetes
Lisa: arendaja tegevusloa taotlus
Rainer Persidski, 626 2973
[email protected]
Suur-Ameerika 1 / Tallinn 10122 / 626 2802/
[email protected] / www.kliimaministeerium.ee/
Registrikood 70001231
Riga, 31 July 2023 For the State Environmental Monitoring Office
23 Rūpniecības Street,
Riga, LV-1045
Application for the proposed development of a wind farm "Lode " in the municipalities
of Lode and Ipiķi, Valmiera municipality
In accordance with Section 4 (1.1) of the Law "On Environmental Impact Assessment" and
Paragraph 2 of the Cabinet of Ministers Regulation No 18 of 13 January 2015 "Procedure for
Environmental Impact Assessment and Approval of the Proposed Activity".
Name of the proponent: SIA "Utilitas Wind"
Registration number: 40203411869
Legal address: 2 Malduguņu Street, Marupe, LV-2167
Phone number: +371 29211393
E-mail address:
[email protected]
1. Title of the proposed activity (object): Construction of the Lode wind farm in Lode and
Ipiķi parishes of Valmiera municipality.
2. Information on the description of the physical characteristics of the proposed activity,
including information on the extent, site preparation prior to the proposed activity, types
of technology to be used, infrastructure required:
Utilitas Wind Ltd (hereinafter referred to as the Proponent) intends to establish a wind farm
"Lode" in the territory of Lode parish, Valmiera municipality (see Figure 1). In order to ensure
that the electricity produced is fed into the common grid, a new cable line will be constructed
from the Lode wind farm, which will connect to the existing 330 kV line TEC-2 - EST (Estonia-
Latvia third 330 kV interconnector) through Viljandi county, Mulgi municipality in Estonia, by
constructing a new substation in Ipiķi municipality, Valmiera county, on a land parcel with
cadastral designation 96560030158.
The Lode wind farm will also include wind power plants and associated infrastructure in the
territory of Estonia, but their environmental impact will be assessed in the environmental
impact procedure in Estonia, thus only the construction of wind power plants and associated
infrastructure in the territory of Latvia will be assessed in both the application and the
environmental impact assessment report, including the context of transboundary impacts as
far as necessary.
The total number of wind power stations to be installed in the wind park "Lode", their location
and the total capacity of the park are to be determined during the environmental impact
assessment process, taking into account the regulatory requirements for the location of wind
power stations, the available transmission system capacity, the results of the environmental
impact assessment, economic and other related aspects that may affect the scope of the
proposed activity.
Although the exact number and location of wind turbines to be constructed is currently
undetermined, the Proponent has estimated through a siting options analysis that up to 20
newer generation large capacity wind turbines could be sited in the study area. During the
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environmental impact assessment process, it is foreseen to analyse different alternatives for
the implementation of the project, such as the installation of a larger number of smaller
capacity plants or a smaller number of larger capacity plants. Whichever option is chosen
during the environmental impact assessment process, the quantitative performance of the
planned wind farm will be above the thresholds set out in Annex 1 of the Environmental
Impact Assessment Act.
The location of the planned new cable line to be constructed in the territory of Ipiķi village will
be determined during the environmental impact assessment process. The location of the cable
line will take into account Article 21 of the Energy Law, which stipulates that the installation
of new energy utility facilities shall be carried out as far as possible using road right-of-ways
in accordance with the provisions of Article 18 of the Law on Roads.
The model and technical characteristics of the wind turbines to be installed are not yet
determined, but are expected to be one of the latest models from Enercon, Vestas, Siemens-
Games, General Electric or Nordex. A number of NPS models are to be assessed as part of the
environmental impact assessment process.
It is expected that access to the planned wind farm during construction and operation will be
provided by the national local roads V176 Sīļi - Estonian border and V177 Ķoņi - Lode - Arakste,
the municipal road Arakste - Bērzi, the roads of SJSC "Latvijas valsts meži" (Ūskalna road,
Akmengravas road and Ūskalna road), as well as newly constructed access roads. Prior to the
planned installation of the wind power plants, the infrastructure necessary for the installation
and operation of the plants - access roads, sites, power transmission lines - is to be re-built or
improved in places. The exact location and technical characteristics of the planned access
roads and other infrastructure will be determined during the environmental impact
assessment process, by assessing the existing road network, the need for new roads and other
infrastructure, the feasibility of their construction and their potential environmental impact,
including on the natural values identified during the study and earlier.
3. Information on the possible locations of the proposed activity (addresses and, if possible,
cadastral designations of land units) and their characteristics, taking into account the
environmental status and sensitivity of the site and the area likely to be affected:
The Lode wind farm is planned to be built at in the northern part of Valmiera district. The
Proponent has identified a study area for the wind farm (see Figure 1), analysing different
possible locations of the plants, however the final location of the NPP will be refined during
the environmental impact assessment process. The wind park study area includes land units
where wind power plants could be located, as well as a land unit where a new substation is
planned. The existing or planned roads to be reconstructed and the location of the planned
cable line will be specified during the EIA. Part of the land included in the study area of the
wind farm is currently used for forestry activities, and part of the area is agricultural land. The
total area of the wind farm study area is 1150 ha.
The study area of the wind farm comprises 34 parcels or parts of parcels. Details of the land
parcels included in the wind farm study area are summarised in Table 1. The land units or parts
of land affected by the wind farm safety zones will be assessed during the environmental
impact assessment process, taking into account the final location of the wind farms. Wind
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farms and associated infrastructure will only be constructed on land parcels with which the
owners have agreed on the siting and construction of the energy supply facilities.
Table 1. Land units in the wind farm study area
No. Name of property Cadastral number Cadastral designation of the land unit
1 Birches 96680010036 96680010118
2 Vevers 96680020011 96680010078
3 Hinges 96680040012 96680010012
4 Robežnieki 96680010007 96680010006
5 Fists 96680010085 96680010061
6 Slokas 96680010054 96680010055
7 Kaisers 96680010010 96680010011
8 Robežnieki 96680010007 96680010005
9 News 96680010002 96680010043
10 Rauķupes 2 96680010098 96680010098
11 Fists 96680010085 96680010085
12 RESEARCH 96680010003 96680010097
13 Fists 96680010085 96680010025
14 New Zealand 96680010045 96680010045
15 Pale forest 96680010074 96680010081
16 Aries forest 96680010124 96680010033
17 Urgas 96680010018 96680010018
18 New Zealand 96680010045 96680010044
19 Kaisers 96680010010 96680010010
20 Mežāres 96680040021 96680010002
21 Wild 96680010004 96680010004
22 RESEARCH 96680010003 96680010003
23 Mežāres 96680040021 96680010099
24 Puigas - 1 96680010034 96680010034
25 Stone Grove Forest 96680010075 96680010075
26 Rap 96680010001 96680010001
27 Arakste - Birches 96680010080 96680010106
28 Pale forest 96680010074 96680010074
29 Lucas 96680030035 96680010041
30 Miner 96680010035 96680010035
31 Beans 96680020077 96680010042
32 Lower Burg 96680010079 96680010079
33 Larch forest 96680010071 96680010071
34 Berzini 96680010120 96680010119
The planned wind park "Lode" will be located in compliance with the minimum distances for
the construction of a wind park set out in the Cabinet of Ministers Regulation No 240 of 30
April 2013 "General Regulations on Spatial Planning, Use and Construction".
The nearest densely populated place (village) to the study area of the proposed wind farm is
Arakste (approximately 2 km) (see Figure 1), while the planned new cable line will pass
through or close to the village of Ipiķi. There are no farmsteads in the study area of the wind
farm. Several farmsteads are located in the immediate vicinity of the proposed wind farm. In
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accordance with the requirements of the regulatory enactments, the wind turbines will be
located at least 800 m away from any residential or public building.
The study area of the Lode Wind Farm is adjacent to the State Protected Cultural Monument
No 2458 Urgu Swedish Stone with inscriptions and signs, which is a cultural monument of
regional importance in archaeology (see Figure 1). There are 2 state protected cultural
monuments in the territory of Araste village - Araste Manor Stables (No 6905) and Araste
Manor Barn (No 6904). The nearest cultural monument of national importance to the planned
330 kV line is the medieval cemetery of Kirbeliai (No 2436), while the substation to be built
will be located 3.5 km away from the medieval cemetery of Veckabeliai (No 2437). The siting
of the wind turbines will take into account the protection zone of the national cultural
monument No 2458. The impact of the proposed activity on the cultural heritage sites both in
the area of the planned wind farm and in its surroundings will be assessed in the preparation
of the Environmental Impact Assessment Report.
According to the information included in the Register of Contaminated and Potentially
Contaminated Sites maintained by the Latvian Environmental, Geological and Meteorological
Centre, the study area of the wind farm "Lode" does not include any contaminated or
potentially contaminated sites, however, it is adjacent to a potentially contaminated site - the
former municipal waste dump (registration number 96688/2143).
The area of the proposed action is located in the Salaca catchment area. The largest
watercourses crossing the construction area of the wind farm are the Krūmiņupīte (drainage
cadastre number 5452982:01) and Veserupīte (drainage cadastre number 5452984:01), which
are mostly regulated in the area of the proposed activity. The area of the proposed operation
includes both reclaimed agricultural land and reclaimed forest land. The planned 330 kV cable
line will cross the national watercourse Pestava (drainage cadastre number 54526:01)
The area of the proposed activity is located in a specially protected area - the North Vidzeme
Biosphere Reserve (for details see section 6 of the application for the proposed activity).
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Figure 1. Location of the planned Lode wind farm
4. Compliance with the municipality's spatial development planning documents:
According to Section 17 of the Law on Administrative Territories and Settlements, the
municipal council elected in the 2021 municipal elections shall evaluate the binding
regulations adopted by the former municipalities forming the municipality and adopt new
municipal binding regulations. Until the date of entry into force of the county's binding
regulations, but no later than 1 June 2022, the binding regulations of the former municipalities
forming the county shall remain in force, with the exception of the binding regulations on
spatial planning, which shall be drawn up by 31 December 2025. Thus, the permitted (planned)
use of the territory in the study area of the wind farm is determined by the Rūjiena
Municipality Spatial Plan 2012-2024 (approved by Binding Regulation No 9 of the Rūjiena
Municipality Council of 19 July 2012 "On the Spatial Plan 2012-2024 of the Rūjiena
Municipality")1 .
According to the Rūjiena municipality spatial plan 2012-2024, the study area of the wind farm
includes land units or their parts, the planned (permitted) use of which is basically defined as
forest territory and agricultural (including reclaimed agricultural) territory.
According to Paragraph 25.1.3 of the Regulations on Territorial Use and Construction of
Rūjiena Municipality 2012-2024, free-standing equipment, for example, a wind generator,
shall be located on a land plot in such a way that the distance to the land plot boundary is not
less than the maximum height of the equipment, but according to Paragraph 25.1.4 wind
power plants with a capacity exceeding 20 kW are allowed to be located in the Industrial and
1
Spatial plan of Rūjiena municipality 2012-2024. Available at:
https://www.valmierasnovads.lv/attistiba/teritorijas-planosanas-dokumenti/rujienas-novada-teritorijas-
planojums/
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Technical Facilities Construction Areas (R), and in the Agricultural Areas in case of local
planning.
Annex 5 of the Regulations on the Use of Territory and Development of the Territory of Rūjiena
Municipality for 2012-2024 indicates the zones where the construction of wind power plants
is allowed without height restrictions. In the rest of the territory of Rūjiena Municipality,
according to the requirements of the Cabinet of Ministers Regulation No 303 of 19 April 2011
"Individual Rules for the Protection and Use of the North Vidzeme Biosphere Reserve", wind
power plants with a maximum height of 30 m are allowed to be built. The study area of the
Lode wind farm falls within the area where the construction of wind farms without height
restrictions is allowed (see Figure 2).
The location of the wind power plants will be specified during the environmental impact
assessment, and if necessary, before the construction process starts, it is necessary to amend
the Rūjiena municipality spatial plan by changing the permitted land use type to one that
allows the construction of the plants (in compliance with the requirements of the Cabinet of
Ministers Regulation No 240 of 30 April 2013 "General Regulations on Spatial Planning, Use
and Construction").
5. Information on, description and assessment of the significant environmental aspects
from which the environmental effects of the proposed activity arise
5.1. Extraction and use of natural resources (specify type and amount, e.g. planned
water consumption in cubic metres per day, per month, per year) and their
transformation, including land areas to be transformed:
No extraction of natural resources is foreseen in the study area during the construction and
operation of the wind farm.
It is expected that deforestation will be required for the construction of infrastructure related
to wind farms, if located in forests. The area to be deforested depends on the number and
location of the wind farms to be built, as well as the possibility of using areas that have already
been deforested, such as existing forest roads. During the environmental impact assessment
process, solutions will be sought to ensure that areas requiring deforestation do not contain
specially protected habitats and plant species. As part of the environmental impact
assessment process, the potential area to be deforested will be estimated and refined during
the preparation of the construction project.
5.2. Main raw materials and their annual quantities or planned construction materials
and their quantities for the construction of the site (indicate all hazardous
chemicals and mixtures and other raw materials with an annual consumption of
more than 100 kg):
Traditional construction materials such as sand, gravel and crushed stone for roads and
squares, concrete and steel for plant foundations will be used to build the wind farms and
associated infrastructure. The foreseeable quantities of construction materials and raw
materials will be determined in the course of the environmental impact assessment, taking
into account the updated location and technical design of the power plants and infrastructure.
Based on the experience with the construction and planning of similar parks in Latvia, it is
expected that no hazardous chemicals or mixtures will be used in the construction process in
quantities exceeding 100 kg per year.
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5.3. Brief description of the technology and annual production
The proposed activity is planned to accommodate a maximum of 20 wind turbines. In order
to ensure that the electricity generated is fed into the common grid, a new 330 kV cable line
will be constructed from the Lode wind farm, which will connect to the existing 330 kV line
TEC-2 - EST through Viljandi county, Mulgi municipality, Estonia, by constructing a new
substation in Ipiķi municipality, Valmiera county. The exact technical solution for the 330 kV
line will be finalised during the environmental impact assessment process.
The amount of electricity generated per year will depend on the number of stations, the VPP
model chosen, the height of the station and the meteorological conditions in the year.
5.4. Water supply solution, source of water (existing or planned), water resources
(surface water or groundwater) supply of the source of water to be used. Planned
waste water quantity (cubic metres per day, per month, per year), waste water
management solution. For the incineration plant, the planned fuel, quantity and
capacity of the plant:
The operation of the wind farm does not consume water, heat or generate waste water.
6. Special areas of conservation, specially protected species, specially protected biotopes
and micro-reserves:
The territory of the proposed activity is located in a specially protected area - the North
Vidzeme Biosphere Reserve. The aim of the Biosphere Reserve, in national and international
terms, is to achieve a balance between the protection of natural diversity, the promotion of
economic development and the preservation of cultural values. The Biosphere Reserve
represents internationally recognised temperate forest ecosystems on land and along the
Baltic Sea coast. The Northern Vidzeme Biosphere Reserve is not a Natura 2000 site.
In order to ensure the conservation of the landscape, ecosystems, species and genetic
diversity of the territory and to promote sustainable economic development, the territory of
the North Vidzeme Biosphere Reserve is divided into 2 functional zones - the landscape
protection zone and the neutral zone. The Lode Wind Farm will be located in the Neutral Zone
of the North Vidzeme Biosphere Reserve, which, as stated in the North Vidzeme Biosphere
Reserve Act (adopted on 11 December 1997 and amended until 6 March 2019), is established
to promote the balanced and sustainable development of settlements within the biosphere
reserve.
On 19 April 2011, the Cabinet of Ministers approved Regulation No 303 "Individual Rules for
the Protection and Use of the North Vidzeme Biosphere Reserve", Annex 2 of which defines
the areas where the construction of wind power plants is allowed without height restrictions,
subject to the following conditions:
• wind power plants must be sited after obtaining written permission from the Nature
Conservation Agency;
• wind farms should be located in groups of no more than 20 wind farms, minimising the
distance between adjacent wind farms. The distance between groups shall not be less
than two kilometres.
The area of the Lode wind farm is included in the area where the construction of wind farms
without height restrictions is allowed (see Figure 2).
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The location of the cable line in the territory of Ipiķi parish will take into account micro-reserve
No 3099 and its buffer zone.
According to the information published by the Nature Conservation Agency in the nature data
management system "Ozols" , there are no other specially protected nature territories,
microreserves and their buffer zones, as well as specially protected trees in the study area of
the wind farm .
Specially Protected Nature Areas in Latvia in the vicinity of the Lode wind farm are shown on
the map in Figure 2.
Figure 2. Specially protected areas in Latvia in the vicinity of the Lode wind farm
7. A description of the environmental effects of the proposed activity, including a
description of any likely significant effects, to the extent that information is available on
the effects caused:
7.1. emissions, waste:
No air, soil or water pollution during operation. During the construction of the park, pollution
may occur as a result of the use of construction machinery, however, if appropriate
precautions are taken, the environmental impact of the construction process will not be
significant. It is expected that relatively small quantities of waste, including hazardous waste,
will be generated during both the construction and operation of the stations, which are
intended to be transferred to companies that have obtained permits for the management of
appropriate types of waste.
7.2. physical effects (e.g. electromagnetic radiation, vibration, noise)
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The most significant physical impacts during operation are noise, flicker and environmental
risk, which can cause impacts in the vicinity of the station site, including in residential areas.
The noise and flicker effects and environmental risks of the proposed power plant park will be
assessed during the preparation of the Environmental Impact Assessment Report, where
necessary refining the siting and technical characteristics of the plants. Experience from
similar projects has shown that physical impacts can be mitigated or avoided to a level that
does not endanger public health and safety by implementing appropriate measures.
7.3. impact on natural assets:
During the preparation of the environmental impact assessment, certified experts on habitats,
birds and bats will be engaged to carry out a field survey of the planned wind farm site and
associated infrastructure, providing an opinion on the feasibility of the proposed activity.
The most significant impacts potentially arising from the construction and operation of wind
farms are on bird and bat populations. The impacts of the proposed activity on natural values
will be assessed in detail during the environmental impact assessment process, with measures
to avoid or mitigate impacts being planned where necessary.
7.4. Impact on landscape quality and cultural and historical monuments:
Wind farms have a clear impact on the quality of the landscape, as they are dominant
structures that can be seen from long distances. The impact of the proposed activity on the
quality of the landscape as well as on the cultural and historical sites in and around the
proposed wind farm will be assessed in the Environmental Impact Assessment Report.
8. A description of the measures planned to avoid or remedy conditions likely to cause
significant adverse effects on the environment
Given the amount of information available on potential impacts, no mitigation measures are
currently planned. The site investigation and comparison of alternatives as part of the
environmental impact assessment process will provide a detailed analysis of potential
impacts, quantify them and, if necessary, plan mitigation measures.
The information provided in the application is true and complies with the requirements laid
down in the regulatory enactments.
Yours sincerely,
Member of the Board of Utilitas Wind Ltd Renārs Urbanovičs
THIS DOCUMENT IS ELECTRONICALLY SIGNED BY
A SECURE ELECTRONIC SIGNATURE AND CONTAIN A TIME STAMP
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