Lithuania approves requirements for maiden offshore wind tender

March 17 (Renewables Now) - The Lithuanian government has approved the requirements for developers that will take part in the country’s maiden offshore wind tender, planned to be launched on March 30, the Ministry of Energy announced on Wednesday.

The upcoming tender will seek developers for a site in the Baltic Sea that could host 700 MW of offshore wind turbines and create the first offshore complex in the country’s territorial waters. The government’s decision also greenlights the exact location of the project -- a site almost 36 km (22.4 miles) off the shore.

The competitive round will be held by the National Energy Regulatory Council (VERT) and will seek to award development rights to the party proposing the highest fee. The project will be realised without state subsidies.

According to the government’s criteria, prospective bidders should have an average revenue of at least EUR 250 million (USD 266.3m) in the last three years and at least 20% of the project value in equity. Evidence will also be required that the company has implemented at least one offshore wind project of not less than 150 MW.

The offshore wind farm should become operational by 2028. Its output is expected to cover up to a quarter of the country’s national electricity consumption.

(EUR 1.0 = USD 1.065)