Estonia-based renewable energy developer Sunly, in partnership with Finnish forest industry group Metsa, is gearing up to embark on a significant venture in northwestern Estonia. The project involves the establishment of a 244-megawatt (MW) solar park, set to be the largest of its kind in the Baltics. Supported by French fund Mirova and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), Sunly aims to make substantial strides in the region's renewable energy landscape.

The proposed Risti photovoltaic (PV) park will feature nearly 350,000 panels equipped with tracking systems, to be strategically installed in the Laane-Nigula municipality of Laane County. This ambitious initiative marks the initial phase of a broader hybrid complex integrating wind turbines and batteries, symbolizing a pivotal step towards diversified and sustainable energy generation.

Scheduled for completion in the first half of 2026, the solar farm is projected to cater to the electricity needs of approximately 55,000 homes annually. With an estimated cost of close to EUR 120 million (USD 131.3m), this undertaking underscores a significant investment in Estonia's renewable energy infrastructure, promising long-term environmental and economic benefits.

Klaus Pilar, Country Manager of Sunly Estonia, expressed enthusiasm, stating, "For us, this is the first major example of a hybrid park project where different types of electricity generation and storage are located behind the same connection point." As stakeholders gear up for groundbreaking, anticipation builds around the transformative impact of this collaboration on the region's energy sustainability efforts.

Source: renewablesnow.com