A 700MW offshore wind tender in the Baltic Sea, initially suspended by the Lithuanian government earlier this year due to cost concerns, will be re-launched in June. The country’s Minister of Energy, Zygimantas Vaiciunas, confirmed that details of the two-sided Contract for Difference (CfD) auction framework are being presented to the Lithuanian parliament today, with final approval expected in May ahead of the summer opening.
The tender for the wind farm site, located 30km from the Lithuanian coast, began last November and was originally scheduled to close in mid-March. However, the Ministry of Energy paused the process to reassess the terms of the tender for what will become Lithuania’s second offshore wind farm.
Vaiciunas reassured potential bidders about the stability of the revised auction framework. “I encourage bidders to participate. Everything is prepared. The challenges in the market are very clear but we see CfD as a guaranteed and stable approach,” he said during a discussion at WindEurope.
The re-launch of the auction is expected to play a key role in advancing Lithuania’s offshore wind capacity, which is an integral part of the country’s energy transition and renewable energy goals.
