OREANDA-NEWS. November 12, 2007. Pursuant to the long-term strategy of Eesti Energia, which includes the diversification of the production portfolio and the decrease in carbon dioxide emissions accompanying production, Eesti Energia has set itself the important goal of developing renewable energy and coproduction. According to the strategy, Eesti Energia acquired the Aulepa Wind Park development this week with the aim of building the largest wind park in the Baltic States, reported the press-centre of Eesti Energia.

"The production portfolio of Eesti Energia is too homogenous – more than 90% of the electricity is produced from oil shale and is thus too risky with respect to possible changes in the surrounding environment. Also, the production portfolio of Eesti Energia currently contains a lot of carbon dioxide. As a result, Eesti Energia wishes to diversify its production portfolio with carbon dioxide free production by investing, for example, in nuclear power plants, coproduction plants and windmills producing renewable energy," commented Eesti Energia's long-term renewable energy strategy Toomas Niinemae, CHP & Renewable Energy Manager for Eesti Energia.

“The acquisition of the Aulepa Wind Park is an important step towards implementing the group production strategy,” said Ando Leppiman, manager of the Renewable Energy Business Unit of Eesti Energia, stressing the importance of the project. “Against a background of ever toughening environmental requirements, we wish to supply our clients with quality energy produced from various energy sources, and decrease the environmental impact of oil shale energy,” Leppiman added.

The capacity of the Aulepa Wind Park is 39 MW, which, once the park is completed, will be the largest in the Baltic States. The annual production of the wind park will be more than 100 GWh, which will cover 1,3% of the end consumption of electricity in Estonia and prevent the emission of almost 120 000 tons of carbon dioxide into the air.

The windmills manufactured by Finnish producer WinWind OY will be erected in the Aulepa Wind Park. WinWind OY is a quickly developing windmill producer that has placed its main emphasis on innovative solutions and maximum energy production. Pursuant to the contract concluded, the wind park will be placed into operation in the spring of 2009. The total cost of the Aulepa Wind Park will be up to 57 MEUR and be funded from the own funds of Eesti Energia.

The other significant renewable energy projects currently in the works by Eesti Energia are the establishment of a 50 MW wind park on the closed ash field of the Baltic Power Station, the establishment of a wind park on Lake Peipsi, construction of a waste-incineration based combined production unit of heat and electricity at Iru Power Plant, and the establishment of a coproduction plant based on biofuel at Ahtme. In the months to come, the Ruhnu wind park and the second Eesti Energia windmill at Virtsu wind park will be put into operation.