Ignitis Renewables, a subsidiary of Lithuania’s state-owned energy group Ignitis Group, has suspended two renewable energy projects in Latvia following decisions by the Latvian government, the business daily Verslo Žinios reported Friday.
According to the report, the projects – located in the Kraslava municipality near the Belarusian border and in Ludza, which borders Russia – were halted after Latvia’s Defence Ministry drew up a map designating large parts of the country’s eastern border regions as off-limits to wind power development until 2027.
“Taking into account the recommendations provided by the Latvian Ministry of Defence, the implementation of the two planned projects in Kraslava and Ludza municipalities has been suspended,” Ignitis Renewables spokesperson Paulius Kalmantas told the outlet.
Kalmantas said the company had optimised its project portfolio and continues to develop seven other renewable energy projects in the region.
The planned Kalnieši wind farm in Kraslava was to include 11 modern, high-capacity turbines. The company did not disclose details about the planned project in Ludza.
Earlier this year, Ignitis Group launched three commercial solar parks in Latvia – the two Stelpė solar parks with a combined capacity of 145 megawatts (MW) and the 94 MW Varme park.
Ignitis Renewables is developing onshore wind, solar, and battery storage projects in Lithuania, Latvia, and Poland. The company is also leading construction of Lithuania’s first offshore wind farm in the Baltic Sea – a 700 MW project valued at more than €1 billion – along with smaller offshore projects in Estonia.
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