6 June (BNS)

The Estonian renewable energy company Nelja Energia opened on Wednesday a 13.8 megawatt wind park in Lithuania's Silale district that represents an investment of more than 22 million euros. The wind park comprises six 2.3 MW turbines by Siemens with 101 meter rotors and 99.5 m towers, Nelja Energia said.

"This is the third wind park of Nelja Energia in Lithuania and the 12th in the Baltic states. It differs from our other projects as the site is over 60 kilometers inland while the coastal region is traditionally perceived as best suited for wind energy. Discovery of new areas with good wind conditions opens new opportunities for wind energy in the region," managing director of 4energia UAB Tadas Navickas said.

Nelja Energia CEO Martin Kruus said that investments in the Baltic renewable energy sector will remain the company's main focus for the years to come, adding that in his opinion Lithuania has the most potential in wind energy out of the three countries.

4energia UAB belongs to the Baltics' largest renewable energy company Nelja Energia, whose biggest shareholders are Vardar Eurus owned by Norway's Buskerud County and NEFCO, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and Estonian investors. During this year Nelja Energia's total wind energy portfolio will reach 230 MW and production will exceed 400 gigawatt-hours. The group's investments in the Baltic states exceed 270 million euros.

In addition to the newly opened wind park Nelja Energia's Lithuanian portfolio includes the operational 14 MW Sudenai and 12 MW Mockiai wind farms as well as a 39.1 MW farm in Ciuteliai (Silute region) which is in its final stages of construction.