Läti ELWIND meretuulepargi projekti piiriülene keskkonnamõju hindamine

Vastavalt nimekirjale 31.07.2023 nr 6-3/23/3225-3 Läti ELWIND meretuulepargi projekti piiriülene keskkonnamõju hindamine Vastavalt piiriülese keskkonnamõju hindamise konventsioonile (Espoo konventsioonile) on Läti teavitanud Eestit ELWIND meretuulepargi projektist. ELWIND on Läti ja Eesti meretuuleenergia ühisprojekt Läänemeres. Lätis kavandatakse meretuulepark võimsusega 500–1000 MW püstitada Kurzeme piirkonnas (Läti mereala planeeringus ala E4): tuulikute maksimaalne arv on 67, võimsus 15–25 MW ning kõrgus hinnanguliselt 350 m. Keskkonnamõju hindamise (KMH) menetluses on käimas programmi etapp (programm on koostamisel). Kirjale on lisatud Läti saadetud ingliskeelsed materjalid: ülevaatlik projekti ja selle elluviimisega kaasnevat keskkonnamõju kirjeldav informatsioonidokument, Läti mereala planeeringu kaart ning projekti üldkaart. Arvestades ka asjaoluga, et tegemist on Eesti ja Läti ühise avamere tuuleenergia projektiga, on Kliimaministeeriumi hinnangul vajalik Eesti osalemine Läti ELWIND meretuulepargi projekti piiriülese keskkonnamõju hindamise menetluses. Ootame 25. augustiks 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) Kaupo Heinma Asekantsler Lisad: informatsioonidokument ja kaardid Rainer Persidski, 626 2973 [email protected] Suur-Ameerika 1 / Tallinn 10122 / 626 2802/ [email protected] / www.kliimaministeerium.ee/ Registrikood 70001231  Description of the offshore wind park ELWIND (LATVIA) 1. INFORMATION ON THE PROPOSED ACTIVITY (i) Information on the nature of the proposed activity ELWIND is a joint Estonian-Latvian state-run cross-border offshore wind project in the Baltic Sea. The Latvian offshore windfarm is planned to be developed on the Kurzeme coast in the sea area opposite to Pāvilosta around 15 Type of activity proposed – 20 km from the coast. EIA procedure will be performed in each country - Latvia and Estonia - separately according to the laws and legal procedures of each country. Yes Is the proposed activity listed in (22) Major installations for the harnessing of Appendix I to the Convention? wind power for energy production (wind farms). Scope of proposed activity (e.g. main activity and any/all peripheral activities requiring assessment) ELWIND is planned to be implemented as a hybrid project with two functions - to ensure the transfer of the electricity produced in the offshore wind farm to the onshore power transmission network and to build fourth interconnection between the power transmission networks in Latvia and Estonia.  In accordance with the planned activity in the territory of Latvia, the total installed capacity of the wind park is planned to be from 500 to 1000 MW, depending on available Scale of proposed activity (e.g. size, technologies at the time of project production capacity, etc.) implementation. Currently, the project is expected to be implemented with a maximum of 67 wind turbines depending on the capacity of each turbine (15 – 25 MW). The maximum height of the turbines is estimated to be 350 meters with a rotor diameter of up to 300 meters, the planned park size ~ 200 km2. Description of proposed activity (e.g. technology used) The building materials used in the construction of the wind park and, therefore, the possible pollution will depend on the technology used for the installation of the turbines, which will be chosen by the project developer and available at that time. Estonia and Latvia is cooperating in delivering pre-development activities to ensure permits to enable offshore wind electricity generation in Latvian and Estonian maritime area and predevelopment of a hybrid electricity interconnector to improve the security of Description of purpose of proposed supply. Project serves as a proof of concept for activity hybrid asset consisting of dual use - transmission network and offshore wind parks. The total size of the project is at least 1000 MW, aiming for an annual renewable electricity output of about 3 to 3,5 TWh (based on an average annual capacity factor of 40%). Rationale for proposed activity (e.g. socio-economic, physical geographic basis) The project is being developed to increase the region’s energy independence by promoting green energy production and improving international electricity network connection. Additional information/comments — (ii) Information on the spatial and temporal boundaries of the proposed activity The Latvian offshore windfarm is planned to be developed on the Kurzeme coast in the sea area E4 (code E4 corresponds to the area defined in Maritime Spatial Planning (MSP) of Latvia) opposite to Pāvilosta around 15 – 20 km from the coast. Area of the development is part of Pāvilosta (Dienvidkurzeme district) Location+ and Ventspils district.The distance of E4 territory (within which the wind park will be built) to the sea border of the Republic of Estonia is ~ 55 km and ~77 km to the coast, to the sea border of the Republic of Lithuania ~ 100 km and ~100 km to the coast, to the sea border of the Kingdom of Sweden ~ 50 km and ~112 km to the coast.  The top layer of the seabed consists mainly of sand and coarse-grained sediment. Only in a small western part the top layer consists of mud to muddy sand. Seabed substrate thickness is unknown. In most of the indicated area, the water depth is between 20 and 50 meters, in the deepest western part depth does not exceed 60 meters.Wind farm will probably be visible from the coast of Ventspils and Liepajas district populated areas. The site will most likely not be visible from the town of Ventspils.Usually, normal fishing methods (i.e., with trawling ships) are forbidden inside Description of the location (e.g. wind farms because of potential damages on physical-geographic, socio-economic the wind turbines, cables, or construction characteristics) ships. This could have an impact on the fishing sector because of the reduced space for fishing in the Baltic Sea. The potential wind farm site has a low suitability for spawning grounds.Wind farm site is situated to the south and therefore has a little impact on the traffic that goes into the Gulf of Riga. There is very little shipping traffic nearby. As the area is defined in Latvian MSP, therefore also air traffic routes and possible impacts were already considered.Investigation area of nature values are further research areas to determine the existing natural values. The selected area E4 is based on the climate of the Baltic Sea (glaciation) and the Rationale for location of proposed characteristics of the seabed (depth only up to activity (e.g. socio-economic, 45 meters), with a good wind climate and low physical-geographic basis) impact on seals. Also, the potential site of wind farm has no significant impact on the air traffic or shipping routes. The project is expected to be implemented in Time-frame for proposed activity (e.g. the period from 2021 to 2030. Research stage start and duration of construction and (including EIA) is expected to happen from operation) 2023 to 2026, construction stage from 2027 to 2030.  The attached maps show the concept of the Maps and other pictorial documents project: connected with the information on the -ELWIND map; proposed activity - map from Latvian MSP with E4 area identified. Additional information/comments (iii) Information on expected environmental impacts and proposed mitigation measures It is planned that different Environmental Scope of assessment (e.g. studies (see the next section of this table) and consideration of: cumulative impacts, Site Data studies are going to be performed as evaluation of alternatives, sustainable a part of EIA in order to receive information development issues, impact of about seabed and all other potential impacts peripheral activities, etc.) that may arise. Expected environmental impacts of proposed activity in the E4 zone (according to the Latvian MSP), project will be developed in the area of 200 km2. Expected types of Environmental impacts:- Benthos community; Expected environmental impacts of - Nursery and habitats of Fish and other proposed activity (e.g. types, pelagic species; - Bat feeding flights and locations, magnitudes) migratory corridors; - Migration and feeding areas of birds; - Nursery and habitat of seals and other marine mammals; - Formation and distribution of suspended solids; - Visual impact; - Natura areas; - Nautical. Inputs (e.g. raw material, power Inputs are going to be specified during the sources, etc.) development of the project. Outputs (e.g. amounts and types of: Outputs are going to be specified during the emissions into the atmosphere, development of the project as well as during discharges into the water system, solid the process of EIA. waste)  Potential transboundary impact is expected to be associated with the construction phase of the wind farm, the creation of a new interconnection in the Baltic Sea, and during Transboundary impacts (e.g. types, the operation phase of the wind farms, such as, locations, magnitudes) the impact of underwater noise, the impact on bird migration, the impact on shipping lanes, etc. Significance of the transboundary impacts will be evaluated during environmental impact assessment. Proposed mitigation measures (e.g. if known, mitigation measures to Necessary measures will be assessed during prevent, eliminate, minimize, the EIA. compensate for environmental effects) Additional information/comments (iv) Proponent/developer Proponent: Investment and Development Name, address, telephone and fax Agency of Latvia, Pērses iela 2, Rīga, LV- numbers 1442, tel.: +371 67039400 (v) EIA documentation Is the EIA documentation (e.g. EIA report or EIS) included in the No notification? If no/partial, description of additional documentation to be forwarded and It is expected that full EIA is going to be (approximate) date(s) when performed by 2026. documentation will be available Additional information/comments